E-toll taxi registration update

More than 46 000 taxis in Gauteng are already registered for e-tolling, as of 31 March 2014, which means they are exempt from the payment of e-toll. This is due to the close cooperation between the Department of Transport, South African National Road Agency SOC Ltd (Sanral), Gauteng Provincial Registrar and various taxi associations.

"There are clear benefits for taxi operators who are registered for e-toll," says Vusi Mona, the agency's head of communications. "We want to thank the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) for the principled stand it took in support of e-tolling and for encouraging its members to register.

Mona said those who are inciting people not to register and had spread rumours about Santaco allegedly boycotting e-tolls were exposed recently when the taxi organisation said taxis had no reason to do so because qualifying public transport vehicles are exempt.

A further 1 300 applications for registration are currently being processed.

Sanral urges all other associations to encourage their members to register with the required documentation so that they can also receive exemptions and not pay any toll fees when using the Gauteng e-roads. Registrations remove any misunderstandings that may arise due to taxi owners receiving an account.

There are clear benefits attached to registration, not only for the operators, but also for their passengers. Registered taxis do not then receive accounts for use of the Gauteng e-roads.

Mona said Sanral has undertaken to set aside the e-tolls due by qualifying public transport vehicles that have already received invoices. Such vehicles would need to be operating as compliant public transport and to register with Sanral (submitting all the relevant documentation) for them to be considered.

Application forms are available from the e-toll website but the agency will also be visiting taxi ranks in Gauteng to help taxi operators to register.