Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters, says that while the Gauteng e-tolling system may not be the perfect solution, it is lawful.
Speaking before the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) made its submission to the e-toll advisory panel on Tuesday, Peters said: “This project was not undertaken without thought or consultation. It is not the perfect solution but doing nothing was not an option. So much has been said about this project and in the narrative there have been truths, half-truths and plain lies,” she said.
Minister Peters emphasised that Sanral did not make policy and did not decide on financing. “The spurious allegations about Sanral ‘milking it’ or ‘profiting at the expense of the public’ must be stopped. Sanral does not make policy, it implements government policy,” she said. “Government has, through this agency, delivered a solid and quality national road network that we all should be proud of. In South Africa we do not have national roads that are riddled with potholes.” 
Minister Peters said attempts to project the agency as profit-driven were unfortunate. “Sanral's sole shareholder is the Minister of Transport, representing government, and the entity has no mandate to make, declare and retain any profit. Its mandate, on the tolling side, is to operate on a cost-recovery basis.”
The Gauteng e-toll system was approved by Cabinet in 2007 to rehabilitate and improve road infrastructure in Gauteng.
The advisory panel was established by Guateng Premier, David Makhura, to assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolls in Gauteng. The panel is expected to submit its finding to the Premier by the end of this month.