Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele says freeways are not free

By Khanyisa Tabata
18 August 2011

Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele says freeways are not free. Ndebele told journalists at a news conference in Cape Town that if motorists want to use freeways, then they must be prepared to pay for them.

This follows an outcry in recent months over the proposed tolling of highways around Gauteng, and most recently on roads leading into Cape Town.

Ndebele says people must pay if they want improved infrastructure.

Ndebele said the "user-pay principle" was accepted throughout the world, but in South Africa people were willingly prepared to pay only in the telecommunications sector.

Cabinet approved revised tariffs for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project earlier in August.

The rates are 24 cents a kilometre for motorcycles, 40c/km for light motor vehicles and 200c/km for longer vehicles. Qualifying taxis and commuter buses are exempt.

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