Deputy President Motlanthe opens COC building

The Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, officially opened the Central Operations Centre (COC) at Samrand, along the N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria on 8 April. It is the operational nerve centre of e-tolling and it is from here that the Gauteng Freeway Management System (FMS) is operated.

The opening was also attended by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, Gauteng Premier Nomvulo Mokonyane, Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi and Sanral CEO Nazir Alli.

Both the deputy president and the minister explained the importance of open road tolling within the broader infrastructure environment and the pivotal role played by roads.

Mr Motlanthe stressed that an inadequate road system was one of the key constraints to economic growth in Gauteng while Ms Peters focused on the importance of technology in the efficiency of the road management system but also ensures the safety of road users.

The Freeway Management System uses high definition cameras which are all linked to the COC. They monitor the country's first multi-lane free-flow toll system. The system is managed by Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), providing road users with a smoother and safer journey, and is an important contributor to keeping South Africa's economic hub moving.

Improved lighting, real-time signage and management of the traffic flows are elements in enhancing road safety while making the N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria user-friendly due to instant information being available to road users.

Traffic flow monitoring also highlights immediately where a road incident or accident is occurring, or has just occurred, and activates Sanral's on-road services - providing medical responses and towing services while reducing the impact of incidents on the flow of traffic.

These services are decentralised at strategic positions across the road network to allow for a rapid response to incidents. The services are operated 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Information about traffic conditions is also available via twitter (@itrafficgp).

"These improved road services are clearly appreciated by the users who continue to pay in increasing numbers - both the registered and the unregistered users. Sanral is thankful for this loyal support and urges all users to pay up - and those who have used their democratic right to oppose e-tolling, to accept that it is now a reality as court after court has confirmed," said Alli.