Department welcomes e-toll court verdict

Earlier, the court dismissed an application by lobby group Opposition to Urban Tolling Association (Outa) challenging the implementation of e-tolls on affected Gauteng highways.

"We believe that the SCA ruling further vindicates our long held position as government that we have sufficiently consulted the public before the introduction of the electronic tolling project," department spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso said in a statement.

"We have always asserted that as a responsible government, we have done everything as required by law," he added.

He said the verdict handed down by the SCA was a confirmation of the earlier finding of the North Gauteng High Court, which after a thorough review of the challenge brought before it, ruled that there was sufficient consultation carried out by government.

Regarding the implementation process, the department was pleased to announce the proclamation of the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Act. This follows the enactment of the legislation into law by the President Jacob Zuma.

The department has now gazetted for information of the public the conditions of tolling, exemption from tolling, e-toll road signage and e-toll specifications.

"We have also published the toll tariffs for comment by the public for a period of 30 days. We encourage the public to participate in this process to ensure that their views are taken on board," said Rikhotso.

The Minister of Transport will consider the inputs before making a final determination on the tariffs that motorists will pay on the tolled road network.