Gauteng's 43 'new' speeding cameras that cost R465-million each
The controversial e-toll gantries are not going anywhere and will be used to assist with road safety.
After implementing the controversial e-toll system in Gauteng, the government was met with considerable resistance from residents.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) was one of the leading civil society organisations that implemented campaigns against the system.
These campaigns, combined with Gauteng residents' refusal to comply with and pay for the e-toll system, led to severe pressure on the government to eradicate the controversial system.
In April 2024, the government finally succumbed to the pressure and decommissioned the tolls.
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Although the toll system itself is no longer used, the massive gantries around several Gauteng roads are still standing strong.
According to BusinessTech, these gantries will not go to waste; they will be used to enhance road safety and fight crime in the province.
This was also announced by former Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga in February, who stated that the gantries would still play a vital role in "crime prevention".
These gantries are equipped with sophisticated technology and CCTV cameras, which will contribute to their new use.
Additional details surrounding the repurpose of the gantries have not yet been confirmed, but a 2022 Sanral tender document suggested that the e-toll gantries could be used as average-speed-over-distance checkpoints and a surveillance system for tracking stolen vehicles.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that the provincial government now has full control over the e-toll CCTV network, which will work alongside the existing surveillance systems in the province.
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"We have taken over all of their CCTV cameras. They are part of our portfolio of CCTV cameras," Lesufi said.
This will play a crucial role in combating crime, including tracking stolen vehicles.
However, the cost of the e-toll infrastructure still remains controversial.
According to OUTA, the capital cost of the e-tolls was about R20-billion.
Throughout Gauteng, there are 43 gantries spaced at about 10 km intervals on the N1, N3, N12, and R21 highways.
BusinessTech reports that this puts each gantry at about R465-million each.
It was agreed that the Gauteng government would only have to pay 30% (almost R13-billion) of the debt owned on the e-toll system.
The remaining 70% will be paid by the National Treasury, but the question of how Gauteng will pay its 30% still remains.
Former MEC for finance Jacob Mamabolo said during the Gauteng budget speech of 2024 that the province will attempt to borrow the money needed to pay off the debt.
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