Chief executive of South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) Skhumbuzo Macozoma is banking on the experience he has amassed over the years to restore lost trust on the road agency,despite ongoing e-toll tussle.
Mr Macozoma is currently trying to amend the relationship between the association and the South African people. This is as a result of the introduction of electronic tolling (e-tolling) in Gauteng.
The introduction of the e-tolling system was largely by dissatisfied citizens, eventually leading to organized public resistance. This hampered Sanral’s efforts until today as the matter still remains unsolved.
However, as one of the goal of the association, Macozoma is looking not only to rebuild the broken bridges involving local and provincial government authorities, but also quell the people’s harsh attitude. He says that they will focus on gaining back their trust by hearing them out and engage openly in their plans moving forward.
Another challenge that also remains to be met is the stabilization of Sanral’s finances owing to the failure of the people of Gauteng to pay their e-toll bills. Moreover, the ongoing disagreement on urban tolling begs the need for development of a new toll policy for South Africa. This responsibility rests in the hands of the Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters.
On the other hand, the possibility of revoking the toll system is out of the question. This is because the money paid is what Sanral uses for maintenance. Although in the future Macozoma sees an e-toll free approach, the traditional format still continues where it is applicable. He also insists on following up on the outstanding Gauteng toll scheme debt.
Unfrotunately, Sanral’s pursuit for the outstanding debts is curtailed by a face-off with the Organization Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which is challenging the issuing of summonses to the e-toll defaulters.
Tolling is an equitable method for a motorist to pay only for the section of road used referred to as the “user‐pay” principle. SANRAL’s approach is one of the most advanced systems in the world which enables the individual design of each road section based on the needs for that particular section of the road.
Its importance includes the provision of roads sooner than the traditional tax‐based revenues which would traditionally fund these roads. The system also delivers the much needed infrastructure sooner than later, all the while ensuring dedicated funding for maintenance of the road.
