E-TOLL PAYMENTS TO BE REFUNDED

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has confirmed that National Treasury will be refunding motorists who have been paying for e-tolls. The total amount comes down to almost R6.9 billion.

This comes after it was announced by Lesufi last month that the system will be deactivated and won’t be used anymore.

EWN reports that National Treasury said that it needed more time to finalise key elements of the agreement, including the settlement of more than R40 billion’s worth of debt that South African National Road Agency (Sanral) is sitting with due to non-payment, before pulling the plug.

Last year, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that Gauteng’s provincial government will be responsible for 30% of the R47 billion owed to Sanral.

Initially, it was announced that the system will be scrapped by 31 December 2022, but it has now been moved to early this year.

Although only 17% of the province’s motorists have been paying their e-toll fees, they will all be refunded for their losses.

It’s still to be decided how the provincial government will be collecting the revenue owed to the roads agency.

Image credit: Htxt