Question NW1359 to the Minister of Transport
23 May 2016 - NW1359
Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)(a)(i) How many road users as a percentage of the total average number of monthly road users and (ii) what exact number of road users have made use of the offer by the SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) to obtain a 60% discount on their e-toll accounts if they pay the specified accounts before 1 May 2016 and (b)(i) what sum total payments and (ii) what percentage of payments has been been made in accordance with the specified offer by (aa) individual road users and (bb) business concerns; (2) whether Sanral intends taking futher legal steps agains non-paying e-toll road users; if not, why not; if so, (a) whether the envisaged legal steps include criminal legal processes, (b) what will be the extent of that, (c) by which date this will happen and (d) what is the extent of the legal costs which has been budgeted for settling the claims?
Reply:
(1) (a)(i) & (ii) There are approximately 2.5 million distinct vehicles using the GFIP on a monthly basis. Approximately 1,45 million vehicles are currently registered or making payment. SANRAL received more than 600 000 enquiries on the less60% offer via the web or via inbound calls from the public. Of the 600 000, approximately 130 000 have settled their account or made arrangements to settle. There is however still work in progress related to the balance of the 600 000 users indicated above.
(b)(i) R136m discounted paid and payment agreements for a further R123m discounted entered into.
(ii) (aa) & (bb) – the system is not set up to distinguish between type of users.
(2) SANRAL is an agency of Government and must comply with the requirements of the PFMA. There is a legal obligation on users to pay toll at a toll plaza or tolling point. SANRAL is obliged to collect outstanding debts to Government in terms of the PFMA.
(a) The SANRAL Act allows for both civil and criminal legal processes. Both are available to SANRAL and the prosecuting authorities.
(b) The extent of these processes are determined by legislation
(c) The NPA already successfully prosecuted a person in 2015 for the non-payment of toll as well as fraud. Further cases are investigated. The issuing of civil summonses already commenced.
(d) We trust that the honourable member is not suggesting that due to legal costs, SANRAL should neglect its obligation to collect the debt owed as mandated in the PFMA. As the honourable member would appreciate the costs are dependent on the particular process, legal costs are determined by the courts.