South African tolling projects paused

Date: 24/10/2011

South African Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has called for all tolling projects on national roads to be halted.

He claimed that, while good infrastructure is essential for South Africa's development its expansion should not come at a cost to citizens.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has erected 42 electric toll gates, covering a total distance of 185km on the Gauteng freeway as part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. Despite improving the road's infrastructure, the project has caused controversy among the public.

After lowering the initially proposed toll prices, the cabinet still contended with growing unhappiness from several parties, resulting in the formation of a task force to look into all the issues surrounding the tolling scheme.

Tolling as now been paused to ensure that all interested parties, including the public, will be involved and have their say on the project.