OUTA has mocked Sanral’s claim that there has been an increase in e-Toll payments from drivers‚ saying that the amount of collections have remained low and relatively steady.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse released a statement on Monday saying the collections for February and March‚ each between R80-million and R90-million‚ had not been a substantial increase from figures for the previous seven months‚ which ranged between R59-million and R80-million.
“To now suggest the e-toll collections of between R80m and R90m for February and March 2016 is a growth of any substance‚ is a feeble attempt at claiming success when there is none‚” OUTA said.
“We’ve seen this behaviour many times before from SANRAL‚ as they pump out propoganda in a desperate attempt to convince the public that all is on track for e-toll success.”
OUTA chairman Wayne Duvenage said: “Throughout the first half of 2015‚ SANRAL’s e-toll collections averaged at R65 million per month‚ which was around half the level of SANRAL’s best e-toll revenue record of R120m in June 2014.
“Their record month was only achieved after six months of coercive threats of summonses and criminal records and despite this‚ they failed to collect less than half the R260 million monthly income‚ which Sanral frequently espoused as required and attainable‚ prior to the scheme’s launch.”
“Despite last year’s offer of a 60% discount on outstanding e-toll bills‚ by deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa‚ the public have demonstrated resilience by not falling for this final round of carrots and sticks‚” Sanral said.
“Sanral’s recent spin suggests that those who oppose the e-toll scheme‚ are the cause of the State Owned Entity’s financial woes and credit rating pressures.”
“Sanral’s financial predicament is self-inflicted and they should stop blaming others for a mess which they created‚” says Duvenage.
