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"Taxes are spent on crap", "It really beggars belief, Sanral is lying"... Wheels24 readers respond to SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) chief executive Nazir Ali's claims that 83% of drivers would only pay R100 month for e-tolling.
In October 2013, Wheels24 reported that Sanral chief executive Nazir Ali said it was unfortunate that commentators were not looking at the benefits of e-tolling in Gauteng.
Ali said said that 83% of drivers would only be paying R100 a month for e-tolling and that the media had been exaggerating the numbers: "Less than one percent of people will actually reach R450 (the maximum amount for tolling) a month."
Video: Why e-tolls make no sense - must watch!
'ILLEGAL FOR SANRAL TO CHARGE DRIVERS'
Earlier in 2013, Wheels24 reported that Sanral released data from its toll system. Of the 2.5-million vehicles checked, only 4700 would have reached the R450-a-month cap, according to the agency's data.
This is what Sanral’s plate recognition system says drivers will pay monthly:
• 82.83% will pay less than R100
• 10.10% will pay R101 - R200
• 1.82% will pay R201 - R300
• 0.59% will pay R300 - R450
Wheels24 asked our readers to share their thought's on Ali's statements. Below are some responses:
Jateen Daya said: "It's sickening to know that you could be force to pay for something that can't be undone. Who would have agreed to this if we were told what the charges would be? Taxes are spent on crap and the cost of living is at an all time high, now let's factor in toll fees. The R250m spent on the presidential palace could have been spent towards this."
Malcolm Clarke: "Even if the majority of drivers will only pay R100 a month, it is still illegal for Sanral to charge road users a different fee because they are not registered with e-tagging. It costs the same for us to drive the same road for the same distance and forcing us to buy e-tags is a different scam all together. It needs to be addressed and sorted out before they turn this ridiculous system on.
"In all countries that have hosted a World Cup, never have any of those countries forced the public to pay for upgrades and I feel we were never asked if this was a good idea/plan. The roads were upgraded for the World Cup and the funding for this should have come from that and not be the citizens of South Africa's problem.
"Before these roads were upgraded it took me 45mins to get to work. Strangely enough, now that the roads are upgraded and 'better', it takes me nearly an hour. So where is the benefit to me? In the article, Nazir Ali said it will benefit us due to time saved and all that other crap but I have not seen this happen yet. It is another way for companies and government bully us into paying for their mistakes."
Andrew Cripps said: "Ali said 75% of freight in South Africa moves on Gauteng roads. This trashes the ANC/Govt argument that its unfair on national users to add the cost to the fuel/road levy. This is exactly why it should be added to the levy.
Arthur Chapman: Assuming 87% of people would pay less than R100 a month, this means means R5 a day (assuming 20 working days and discounting weekends). This equates to R2.50 per trip, which means one toll gate out and one return. So 87% of people travelling on the toll roads pass under only one toll gate twice a day. It really beggars belief, Sanral is lying!"
Do you agree with Ali's sentiments? How do you feel about e-tolling? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
In October 2013, Wheels24 reported that Sanral chief executive Nazir Ali said it was unfortunate that commentators were not looking at the benefits of e-tolling in Gauteng.
Ali said said that 83% of drivers would only be paying R100 a month for e-tolling and that the media had been exaggerating the numbers: "Less than one percent of people will actually reach R450 (the maximum amount for tolling) a month."
Video: Why e-tolls make no sense - must watch!
'ILLEGAL FOR SANRAL TO CHARGE DRIVERS'
Earlier in 2013, Wheels24 reported that Sanral released data from its toll system. Of the 2.5-million vehicles checked, only 4700 would have reached the R450-a-month cap, according to the agency's data.
This is what Sanral’s plate recognition system says drivers will pay monthly:
• 82.83% will pay less than R100
• 10.10% will pay R101 - R200
• 1.82% will pay R201 - R300
• 0.59% will pay R300 - R450
Wheels24 asked our readers to share their thought's on Ali's statements. Below are some responses:
Jateen Daya said: "It's sickening to know that you could be force to pay for something that can't be undone. Who would have agreed to this if we were told what the charges would be? Taxes are spent on crap and the cost of living is at an all time high, now let's factor in toll fees. The R250m spent on the presidential palace could have been spent towards this."
Malcolm Clarke: "Even if the majority of drivers will only pay R100 a month, it is still illegal for Sanral to charge road users a different fee because they are not registered with e-tagging. It costs the same for us to drive the same road for the same distance and forcing us to buy e-tags is a different scam all together. It needs to be addressed and sorted out before they turn this ridiculous system on.
"In all countries that have hosted a World Cup, never have any of those countries forced the public to pay for upgrades and I feel we were never asked if this was a good idea/plan. The roads were upgraded for the World Cup and the funding for this should have come from that and not be the citizens of South Africa's problem.
"Before these roads were upgraded it took me 45mins to get to work. Strangely enough, now that the roads are upgraded and 'better', it takes me nearly an hour. So where is the benefit to me? In the article, Nazir Ali said it will benefit us due to time saved and all that other crap but I have not seen this happen yet. It is another way for companies and government bully us into paying for their mistakes."
Andrew Cripps said: "Ali said 75% of freight in South Africa moves on Gauteng roads. This trashes the ANC/Govt argument that its unfair on national users to add the cost to the fuel/road levy. This is exactly why it should be added to the levy.
Arthur Chapman: Assuming 87% of people would pay less than R100 a month, this means means R5 a day (assuming 20 working days and discounting weekends). This equates to R2.50 per trip, which means one toll gate out and one return. So 87% of people travelling on the toll roads pass under only one toll gate twice a day. It really beggars belief, Sanral is lying!"
Do you agree with Ali's sentiments? How do you feel about e-tolling? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...