Public hearings on the Gauteng highway toll gates are expected to start on Friday in Johannesburg.

The hearings are to give all affected parties an opportunity to share their views on the proposed tolls with government. In October, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele instructed the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to suspend all processes related to the tolling of national roads.

The suspension included the planned phase two of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan, the Cape Winelands and the Wild Coast.

“It is important to note that there’s a clear distinction or separation between phase 1 [almost completed] and phase 2 [no work has started as yet],” said transport spokesperson Tiyane Rikhotso.

He said phase one was almost complete and the department wanted to hear alternative views from the public on the best possible model of financing the debt incurred.

The suspension was welcomed by various organisations including the SA Municipal Workers Union, the Freedom Front Plus and AfriForum.

In August, Cabinet approved reduced toll tariffs for the N1 highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Motorcyclists were expected to pay 24c a kilometre, light motor vehicles 40c, medium vehicles R1 and “longer” vehicles R2 a kilometre.

Taxis and buses were exempted.

Credit to: News 24 and Sapa