The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) has released a statement disputing the conclusions drawn by Minister Dipuo Peters over a report that says more people are paying for etolls now than in previous months.
The minister released statistics yesterday that say etoll revenues for June were R78m, up from the R76m of May’s figures, which he attributed to the “new dispensation” that was announced on the 20th of May. The new dispensation offered motorists a 60% discount on outstanding etoll fees, among other concessions.
OUTA’s chairman, Wayne Duvenhage disputes this, saying that “When comparing revenue growth and business performance, it is important to equate this to the same period last year, as well as to one’s original targets. OUTA categorically states that any attempt to talk the e-toll numbers up as a result of May and June’s e-toll revenues at R78 million is nothing but a farce.”
When compared to last year’s revenues during the same period, SANRAL’s income is down. In May and June 2014, the company brought in R117m and R120m respectively, making this year’s earnings 35% lower.
The increase in revenues between May and June owing to more motorists paying etolls is technically correct – more people must be paying for etolls for there to be a rise, even if the rise was only R2m – but OUTA disputes the idea that it means SANRAL’s new dispensation is changing the public’s mind about etolling.
“The fact that June 2015 revenues are literally the same as May’s after the new dispensation, is an indication that there has been no take-up of Government’s new offers and that clearly, the public are not being fooled by the so-called discounts and continue to defy the unjust scheme,” says Duvenage.
[Source – OUTA]
