Yes, it is going to cost some of us an awful lot of money each month, yes its going to pay for fixing up roads that should have been maintained by our government, yes we as South Africans already pay an exorbitant amount on our petrol.....but, on the other hand....wouldn't it be great driving on beautifully maintained huge 5 lane highways, especially if this tolling brings down the amount of vehicles on the road?
I am also wondering how they can even consider starting tolling when the highway renovation is far from complete? The N12 is still a complete shambles and a nightmare for those who have to use it daily. How can you start charging a toll when you have not completed the upgrade this toll is meant to pay for? And how can one highway (the N3) be completed so beautifully, including the fly over at Gillooleys without disrupting traffic, and yet the renovation of the N12 is a complete joke.There is talk that this type of tolling system was attempted in Germany and failed, if this is true, then how will it ever work in South Africa?
And yet it is already running in Australia
What do you think? Will it work? Will you be buying an e-tag? or will you be part of the boycott? Have you attended the strikes?
How much will you be paying?
I have been reading up on the toll and there are definite pro's and con's. They have now changed the tariff to 30c/km with a cap of R550, but how long will this last? Will they just wait till we relent and purchase our e-tags and then increase the toll and loose the cap?
Here are some other articles on the e-tolling
http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/why-electronic-tolling-system-will-fall-on-its-face-1.1204519http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/The_Gauteng_e-Tolls/634/
http://www.sanral.co.za/e-toll/
"wouldn't it be great driving on beautifully maintained huge 5 lane highways" ... yes, but is this likely? I think it's more likely that the money extorted from the long-suffering public will be buying farms and fancy cars for all the corrupt officials. We DID have well maintained roads, which would not have disintegrated to their current state if the funds to maintain them hadn't oozed into some other coffers. I suspect it will be the same case with Sanral, good intentions will leak away and the highways will fall apart once again.
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