Minister Creecy and the Deputy Minister Hlengwa welcomed the Cabinet decision to approve that SANRAL implement the closure of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) historical debt

The Cabinet finally closes the e-toll historical debt chapter. Pretoria:

The Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy and the Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa have welcomed the Cabinet decision to approve that SANRAL implements the closure of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) historical debt. This includes two things: the close-out of GFIP historical e-toll debt and the resolution of all outstanding litigation matters.

They have characterized this decision as a long-awaited step to close the GFIP e-toll matter in an orderly and responsible manner. Creecy and Hlengwa stated that this brings much-needed relief and lessens the financial burden to road users who are currently hard-pressed by high fuel costs due to geopolitical matters that are currently unfolding.GFIP was implemented and operated under the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) in terms of the applicable tolling framework and approvals that were in place at the time.

The e-toll system was introduced as a funding mechanism for the upgraded Gauteng freeway network. The approval follows the government’s decision to close the GFIP e-toll scheme and the subsequent withdrawal of the GFIP toll declarations, which became effective on 11 April 2024. Cabinet’s approval confirms the following: Outstanding and unpaid historical GFIP e-toll debt owed by road users will be written off;  

• SANRAL will not pursue any further collection of historical GFIP e-toll debt;  
• Road users who lawfully paid e-tolls while the system was legally in force will not be refunded;  
• The no-refund position arises from lawful levies at the time they were paid, that is, before the toll declarations were withdrawn;  
• The write-off of outstanding debt gives effect to Government’s decision to close the GFIP e-toll scheme and provide finality to road users, SANRAL and the fiscus;

Government reiterates that the close-out of GFIP e-toll debt is intended to provide certainty, resolve historical debt matters and support a sustainable approach to the funding, maintenance and improvement of South Africa’s national road network. Government further emphasises that the user-pay principle remains an important part of South Africa’s road infrastructure funding framework where it is broadly accepted by road users through negotiation and agreement, appropriately structured, legally sound and supported by clear policy certainty.

ISSUED BY: National

Department of Transport