Sanral has been collecting hundreds of millions of rands in e-toll fees from Gauteng motorists – eight months after the controversial system was originally meant to be scrapped.

A Fin24 report notes during his medium-term budget policy statement last year, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the system would be scrapped on 31 December.

However, on New Year's Day, the provincial government said an agreement with National Treasury had not yet been concluded to support the deactivation, and that a notice to shut off the system would be gazetted in ‘early 2023’.

An agreement has yet to be reached.

‘The intergovernmental discussions are still ongoing between the national departments (National Treasury and the Department of Transport) and the (Gauteng government) on the scrapping of e-tolls,’ provincial spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said.

‘The Premier can only engage publicly once a consensus has been reached and a memorandum of understanding has been reached by all involved parties.’

National Treasury has maintained that a scrapping date has never been agreed to between National Government and the Gauteng Government, and that it remains the responsibility of the authorities to create an alternative revenue model.

Meanwhile, Sanral spokesperson Melany Kühn said the collection of fees would continue until the scrapping of e-tolls has been gazetted.

The report notes the agency has collected R272.5m between January and July this year.

Full Fin24 report