By Mapaballo Borotho
- Government has confirmed that all outstanding Gauteng e-toll debt will be written off, with the National Treasury set to settle the amount.
- The decision follows the scrapping of the controversial e-toll system in April 2024 after years of public resistance.
- Motorists who previously paid e-tolls will not be refunded, as government says the charges were legally valid when incurred.
Gauteng motorists can finally breathe a sigh of relief after the government confirmed that all outstanding e-toll debt owed by road users will be written off.
The announcement was made on Friday, 5 June 2026, after Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed that National Treasury will settle the outstanding amount.
For years, Gauteng motorists resisted paying e-tolls, arguing that the system was unfair and unaffordable. The controversial e-toll scheme was eventually scrapped in April 2024 following widespread public opposition.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni said government had accepted a recommendation by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) to write off unpaid e-toll debt.
“This follows government’s decision to discontinue the electronic tolling system, which took effect from 12 April 2024. Cabinet noted the recommendation by SANRAL to write off the debt that road users did not pay, and the National Treasury will settle this debt,” said Ntshavheni.
However, motorists who previously paid their e-toll bills will not receive refunds.
Ntshavheni said Cabinet had decided against reimbursing road users who paid e-tolls while the system was in operation, maintaining that the charges were legally valid at the time they were incurred.
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