The Freedom Front Plus has taken note of the media reports on a number of radio stations according to which SANRAL has threatened road users who do not pay their e-toll accounts with arrest and imprisonment. According to news reports on Highveld Stereo and 702 Talk Radio, SANRAL has warned the public to either pay up or go to jail. Should these reports be correct and SANRAL has threatened people in this manner, it is in contrast to what the minister of Transport, Ms. Dipuo Peters, said in Parliament, Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus’ parliamentary spokesperson on Transport, said.
“I put a question to the minister in Parliament last month and enquired of her whether SANRAL intended to apply ordinary debt collection methods for outstanding accounts or whether to arrest people. She answered somewhat sarcastically that I am a legal practitioner and should therefore know that SANRAL would not use the route to prosecute people,” Adv. Alberts explained.
Her exact words were: “Since Mr. Alberts is an advocate, he should know very well that SANRAL is not going to use the road to sentence people” (Hansard Wednesday 5 March 2014).
The minister also said that South Africa has an active court and legal system. With this one could easily come to the conclusion that SANRAL will not criminally prosecute non-payers of e-toll accounts.
The FF Plus keep the minister to her words and will assist anybody who are prosecuted.
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