The announcement of the toll fees to be levied on a large portion of Gauteng’s freeways from June 23, has some “horrific implications” for motorists, “not to mention the nasty dent it will put in the freight industry’s pocket,” says Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) spokesperson Gary Ronald.

“We’re likely to see alternative routes becoming gridlock areas where back roads offer a toll-free substitute,” he adds.

However, Ronald also emphasises that South Africans will need to rethink the cold shoulder they often give public transport, especially where a viable service is available as an alternative to paying toll fees.

“Solutions lie in improved public transport solutions, with a need to accelerate the roll-out of Rea Vaya . . . and possibly looking at Gautrain buses. We might also see some out-of-the-box thinking from the business sector with a more work-from-home mentality coming through.”

Rea Vaya is Johannesburg’s bus rapid transit system currently being rolled out across the city.

The full Pretoria–Johannesburg–OR Tambo International Airport Gautrain system, also featuring a complementary bus service, is expected to be operational by the end of June.