eToll Letter to Zuma

[IanF]

This is going to get interesting. I hope that there is a 80% non uptake for the tags as that is going to make paper and copier suppliers rich in Gauteng. Will the post office cope?

[Chrisjan B]

Let's hope the post office don't COPE....

[sterne.law@gmail.com]

An interesting question -
What is the basis, not legal technicalities and not "if they stop stealing our money " argument for people being opposed.
I asked because it would be interesting to see.

[CLIVE-TRIANGLE]

The Government Has Stolen The Roads From The People
URGENT NOTICE:
To Jacob Zuma and the Government of South Africa.

He doesn't read....

[Dave A]

An interesting question -
What is the basis, not legal technicalities and not "if they stop stealing our money " argument for people being opposed.

By my understanding, there are a few reasons to be aggrieved:
1. The roads were already there - they've just been widened or refurbished.
2. Toll roads weren't supposed to be introduced on freeways in urban areas.
3. Our fuel levy is supposed to be paying for the roads already.
4. There is supposed to be an alternative route for any toll road (OK - there are alternatives, but in this case for much of it they're through residential areas and already swamped)
5. The rate (per km) is significantly higher than on any other toll road.
6. Enforcement (collections) will be done outside of the judicial arm of government (I've probably put that badly, and I'm not sure if this has already been struck down as unconstitutional).
7. The recording and collection mechanism would seem vulnerable to problems (particularly false number plates on vehicles without etags).

The particular aspect I've been wondering about is how car hiring is going to work out in all this.
Fly to ORT (Jhb).
Wave credit card and hire a car.
Do business at CSIR Pretoria (as example).
Return car.
How are the toll fees going to be raised, billed, allocated and processed?

[IanF]

Dave
Catch the Gautrain to Hatfeild and a bus to CSIR. The gautrain is worldclass.
From what I understand the car rental companies have etags already, just how they know what tolls you owe? Will etolls be real time?

[Blurock]

He doesn't read....

Can't read?

[tec0]

From the beginning I saw that they will force this onto South Africans. It is just to much money... There is no way in hell that they will say "ok scrap the system" The reality is if you control the roads of a Nation you control the Nation. Without roads you cannot transport goods. Without goods and more importantly FOOD and MEDICATION you will not survive.

We already have to deal with import tax, tax on goods, high fuel cost, and virtually no jobs. How do they expect someone to live if you are no longer "FREE" to use the road of this country?

South Africa cannot grow because the power-stations cannot deliver power, imagine now we live in a world where there is NO POWER, and it is happening. and now imagine that you have no access to FOOD or MEDICATION due to high cost?

Right now 1% of South Africa has "Real employment" what do you think will happen with this system? 0.8% 0.6%? Where do you draw the line?

[Justloadit]

Dave
Catch the Gautrain to Hatfeild and a bus to CSIR. The gautrain is worldclass.
From what I understand the car rental companies have etags already, just how they know what tolls you owe? Will etolls be real time?

They probably use a prepaid tag. Customer tops up before trip

[Dave A]

Catch the Gautrain to Hatfeild and a bus to CSIR. The gautrain is worldclass.

But how's the bus service?

I take the Gautrain fairly regularly from ORT to Centurion (and back). The problem from there is I have to get to Clubview, which means someone has to pick me up (take time out of their day). I've seen taxis, but I haven't seen much sign of busses running to and fro. Add up the premium for using the Gautrain ORT stop and what those taxis charge, it's already marginal as to which is cheaper, fly and hire vs fly and use Gautrain / public transport.

The moment there's two people sharing the hire car, going the hire car route becomes a no-brainer on a cost level.

[Dave S]

...The moment there's two people sharing the hire car, going the hire car route becomes a no-brainer on a cost level.

Not to mention the fact that you aren't putting your life in someone else's hands, and you have the convenience of being able to go where you are headed, and in a shorter timespan.

[IanF]

But how's the bus service?

You should check the hours I know it does not operate on weekends or when it hits the workers favourite pastime of striking.
The ORT rates on Gautrain are ridiculous as you have proved with the breakeven on car hire.

[Didditmiself]

You should check the hours I know it does not operate on weekends or when it hits the workers favourite pastime of striking.
The ORT rates on Gautrain are ridiculous as you have proved with the breakeven on car hire.

Ian, as Dave said, he only gave the CSIR trip as an example. What does one do if your destination is no where near the Gautrain, even though both the train and the e-toll highway are relatively close together; in other words, in a suburb that requires you to take a bus after getting off the train (which may not be running at that time or if it is, not going to your destination). Must one look for a taxi to complete the rest of the journey? And when you want to go home, do all the above-mentioned in reverse order? Every day? And at what cost?

[tec0]

And there you go....

[Hermes14]

Try & find a reliable form of public transport anywhere between Jukskei Park, Johannesburg North all the way to Sundowner the either goes to Sandton or Johannesburg. ( I don't consider the death trap taxis a reliable form of public transport).