Gauteng government pays another R3.3 billion for e-tolls debt

GAUTENG Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has committed the province to paying off its 30% portion towards servicing the e-toll debt with the provincial treasury expected to make the payment of R3.3 billion towards the debt yesterday.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

This comes more than six months since the province made the first payment of R3.8 billion in September last year following the scrapping of the e-toll system early in 2024 with the National Treasury having agreed to cover 70% of the debt as the province took responsibility for the remaining 30%. According to reports, the debt is set to be repaid in five annual installments.

During a press briefing on Sunday, Maile indicated that an amount of R5.76 billion would be paid yesterday for the e-toll debt while another portion will be paid towards SANRAL freeway upgrades.

“We are committed to increasing efficiency and systems, cost effectiveness and eliminate leakages, identifying potential new revenue collecting sources that have not been explored and the use of alternative funding and implementation models to achieve more value.