Any user-pays project where less than half the users pay, is a failure, said Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) chairperson Wayne Duvenage on Tuesday.

Outa is opposed to electronic tolling on Gauteng’s highways, as implemented last year.

Speaking at the Future Group’s TruckX conference in Johannesburg, Duvenhage said Outa believed a “maximum of 40%” of vehicles on Gauteng’s highways had etags, with this figure declining.

“Whether enforcement can happen is questionable. The data used for enforcement is questionable. We see all the problems we predicted coming to fruition.

“It is only a matter of time before they [government] pull the plug on it [e-tolling].”

Duvenhage said the e-toll review panel, as announced by Gauteng Premier David Makhuru earlier this year, was an effort from government “to found a way out”.

The panel’s task was to assess the socioeconomic impact of e-tolls in Gauteng, and to invite proposals and submissions from Gauteng residents on proposed solutions.

The panel was expected to present a final report and recommendations to the Gauteng provincial government by November 30.

“It’s all politics now. We have local elections in two years and the people have made clear their opinion on e-tolling in Gauteng’s provincial election,” said Duvenhage.

He said Portugal, which had also implemented e-tolling, had reached 80% compliance. He claimed this number was slipping steadily.

“Out of ten people around the dinner table, eight are paying and two not, so the eight becomes angry, asking why they are paying.”

Duvenhage said Outa was not against paying for new road infrastructure, but questioned whether e-tolling, as implemented in Gauteng, was the most cost-effective way to do so.

“Replace e-tolling with a fuel levy or a general tax. How long can you possibly flog a dead horse?”