Johannesburg - The ongoing saga of Gauteng's e-tolls has taken another dramatic turn as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) escalates its battle with the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral). Outa is heading to court to challenge the collection of outstanding e-toll debt, amounting to a staggering R265 million.
Following the official termination of the controversial e-toll system in April 2024, Outa has filed papers in the Pretoria High Court, seeking a declaration that Sanral has effectively abandoned its claims to the unpaid debt. The legal action targets Sanral and three government ministers. No court date has been set yet.
Outa claims that previous attempts to engage with Sanral and the government to resolve the issue amicably have been unsuccessful, leaving legal action as the only remaining option. Wayne Duvenage of Outa stated, "We are happy to sit down and resolve this, but if we have to go to court to compel you to do so, then that is what we have to do."
Duvenage further lamented the unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers' money on this legal battle, arguing that Sanral has no justifiable reason to pursue the debt collection.
The Core of the Dispute
Outa argues that Sanral's pursuit of e-toll debt is futile and wasteful, especially considering the system's official abolishment. They believe that continuing to chase these debts is an inefficient use of public resources and a burden on already strained taxpayers.
What's Next?
The court's decision will have significant implications for both Sanral and the thousands of motorists who have outstanding e-toll debts. The outcome could set a precedent for future disputes related to government policies and their financial consequences.
- Outa seeks a court declaration to halt debt collection.
- Sanral defends its right to recover outstanding funds.
- Taxpayers face uncertainty amidst the legal battle.