Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the official process to end e-tolls will begin on 31 March 2024. He made this announcement during the Gauteng State of the Province Address held at Nasrec in Soweto.
Lesufi revealed that following discussions with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, an agreement was reached to commence the process of dismantling and discontinuing the e-toll system by the end of March.
“E-tolls will soon be a thing of the past in our province,” stated Lesufi, indicating that further details would be provided by Minister Godongwana during his upcoming Budget speech.
Originally scheduled for termination on December 31, 2022, the elimination of e-tolls faced complications during negotiations between the Gauteng government and the National Treasury. The unresolved issue led to mounting debts for the SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL), placing significant financial strain on the agency.
To address this, in October 2022, Minister Godongwana outlined a plan to alleviate SANRAL’s financial burden by absorbing a portion of its debt. Additionally, the Gauteng government committed to assuming some of the debt and collaborating with the national government to establish alternative revenue-generating mechanisms for road maintenance post-e-tolls.
While discussions persisted, SANRAL continued to collect e-toll revenue from Gauteng motorists, amassing R272.5 million in the first half of 2023 alone.
Premier Lesufi acknowledged the widespread rejection of e-tolls by the people of Gauteng, marking a significant milestone in the province’s transportation landscape.