SANRAL clarifies issue of huge e-toll bills

SANRAL spokesperson Vusi Mona explained that the fee collection process can be divided into three stages, which include the seven-day grace period, the debt collection process by the Violations Processing Centre and the prosecution using the Criminal Procedure Act.

"We want to reiterate that when you register your vehicle and obtain an e-tag, you enjoy the benefit of a 48% discount and other mark-downs based on time of day and frequent use. In addition, the maximum amount that you can be charged is R450 per month for an ordinary light motor vehicle," Mona explained in a statement.

However, Mona warned that motorists, who do not have an e-tag, do not get all these benefits and if they do not pay within the stipulated seven days, there is an additional cost incurred.

"If we take the scenario of a registered road user who has an outstanding balance of R100, his unregistered or register user without an e-tag (VLN user), would be expected to pay R192.31 because he would not have the benefit of the 48% discount.

(Image: (WT-shared) NJR ZA at wts wikivoyage, via Wikimedia Commons)

"If the road user (registered or unregistered) fails to pay the within the seven days grace period, the bill would escalate to R576.93, the full alternative fee, which is payable if 60 days go past. However, if the road user pays 30 days after the grace period, he would get a 60% discount on the R576.93, which would reduce the bill to R230.77."

Mona further explained that if the road user pays the bill between 30 and 60 days after the seven day grace period, they get only a 30% on the R576.92, which would reduce the bill to R403.85.

"The final step in the process is that if a road user fails to pay the R576.92, the offense will be handed over to the Prosecuting Authority and will be dealt with in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act. Failure to comply with this could result in a criminal record," said Mona.