Gauteng govt set to make second payment of e-toll debt on Monday

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government is preparing to make its second payment towards settling its e-toll debt, with R3.3 billion scheduled for payment on Monday.

The e-toll system was scrapped in 2024, after the National Treasury agreed to cover 70% of the debt, while the province took responsibility for the remaining 30%.

The total debt owed by the Gauteng government amounted to R15.9 billion, including accrued interest.

Finance MEC Lebogang Maile held a media briefing in Johannesburg on Sunday to provide an update on the repayment of the e-toll debt.

In September 2024, the Gauteng government made its first payment of R3.8 billion towards settling its e-toll debt.

READ: Gauteng govt makes first payment to settle e-toll debt

With the province set to make a second payment of R3.3 billion on Monday, the total amount paid will rise to over R7.1 billion.

Maile said this reflects the province’s commitment to honouring its side of the deal.

"In the budget speech in March of 2024, the Gauteng provincial government announced that as part of the province’s arrangement to service the debt, a provision for honouring this commitment would be pencilled into the 2024 fiscal framework. Since making this announcement in the said budget speech, we have maintained the necessary fiscal discipline to ensure adherence to this commitment."

The e-toll debt is to be repaid in five equal annual instalments.

Besides the R3.3 billion payment to the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), the Gauteng government will also allocate an additional R2 billion for freeway upgrades.