Transport minister Joe Maswanganyi last week revealed that Sanral has collected R2.9 billion in e-toll fees since the system’s inception in December 2013.
By Outa’s calculations, the Austrian-owned toll collection company, ETC, has pocketed R2.2 billion of that – 74%.
In August 2016, the Austrian road group behind South Africa’s e-toll build, Kapsch Trafficom, reported that it gained full control of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) by buying out the local group TMT, who partnered with Kapsch.
This acquisition meant that all money paid in the collection of toll fees would go straight to Kapsch.
While trying to convince the public of the value of e-tolling during the 2014/15 outcry, Sanral pushed the view that, for every R1 spent on e-tolls, only 17 cents would be paid to the collection company.
“This is a clear indication of how irrational the scheme has become – and what makes matters worse is the compliance levels continue to decline year on year,” Outa said.
“At an average of R55 million per month paid to ETC, and with the current e-toll income levels at around R63 million per month, virtually no money is going toward the e-toll bonds.”
According to Outa chairman, Wayne Duvenage, Sanral is also trying to hide the reality of its financial woes, by reflecting all e-toll invoices on discounted rates – rather than the punitive rates that apply.
“Reflecting all e-toll invoices at the discounted rate suggests SANRAL wants to present outstanding debt lower, despite the fact that they are reflecting the outstanding debt to unregistered road users at the higher punitive tariff,” he said.
“At the discounted value, Sanral will still be owed around R9.2 billion as of the end of March 2017.”
It was revealed in Parliament last week that only about 30% of invoices generated to motorists who use Gauteng’s toll roads have been paid over a 24-month period.
Of the more than 1.8 billion invoices that were issued in the past 24 months, more than 1.3 billion (more than 71%) were unpaid.
