While the Gauteng provincial government and national transport ministry have proudly celebrated the recent shutdown of e-tolls, many questions remain about what will happen to the scheme’s outstanding debt.The shutdown of the e-toll system was enabled through a years-long negotiated agreement between the national government, GPG, and the South African National Roads Agency .
However, transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has repeatedly emphasised that e-toll defaulters remain obliged to pay their debts. Prescribed debt is “old debt” that has passed a three-year mark without being paid or acknowledged by the debtor. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the GPG chose to pay the e-toll debt over a longer term as an immediate drawdown on the province’s budget would impact important services — including health.