The FF Plus recently stated that all e-toll bills issued to date are illegal, as none of Sanral’s e-toll gantry equipment has been legally certified.
According to the party, it received confirmation from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) that Sanral had not received the necessary certifications for the equipment.
Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona disputed media reports about this, but did not specify which elements of the articles were false.
The agency was asked to confirm that it has the necessary certifications for its cameras, but it did not respond by the time of publication.
When the FF Plus was asked for its reaction to Sanral’s denial, Gauteng leader Anton Alberts provided the letter the NRCS sent the party.
NRCS process for e-toll cameras explained
In the letter, the NRCS explains that there are no regulations in place for the kind of equipment Sanral is using.
Sanral requested exemption from needing their cameras certified, but this was denied – as the matter can be dealt with in terms of the Legal Metrology Act.
This means that the CEO of the NRCS will set the certification requirements for Sanral’s cameras until a legal metrology technical regulation is established.
Once the NRCS and Sanral have agreed upon requirements, a request will be lodged with the SABS to develop a South African National Standard (SANS).
After the SANS specification is developed, the Minister of Trade and Industry will declare it a legal metrology technical regulation.
Can there be legal bills with illegal cameras?
The implication of the NRCS’s stance is that Sanral’s cameras are not yet certified, and supports the FF Plus’s statement that e-toll bills issued to date are illegal.
Like speeding cameras, if the measuring equipment is not properly calibrated and certified, the e-toll bills Sanral issues are illegal, the FF Plus said.
The party has subsequently submitted a complaint to the National Consumer Commission about the tolling system.
The Commission said it will process the complaint within 60 days, first assessing if it falls within the terms of the Consumer Protection Act.
