Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) submitted comments yesterday to the Department of Transport on the publication of the SANRAL Act, Act 7 of 1998. BUSA represents several industries and organisations that through the normal daily course of their activities traverse the roads of Gauteng. Bearing in mind that Gauteng represents around one third of South Africa’s gross domestic product, BUSA believes there are wider national implications. These regulations and the tariff schedule released by the department on Friday 13 April, have far-reaching and significant implications for the cost of conducting business within Gauteng and throughout the country.

While BUSA understands the logistical challenges faced by SANRAL in ensuring the payment of e-toll fees, the regulations contained in the Act, are extreme and place onerous and extensive burdens on business. It is also of concern that there seems to be a lack of alignment between this piece of legislation and other legislation already in existence. The combined costs of enforcing the regulations and those outlined in the tariff schedule have the potential to greatly increase the costs of conducting business in South Africa.

Pretoria - Construction of the Tshwane Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system from the CBD to Menlyn via Sunnyside and Hatfield is expected to start in July 2012. Executive Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said the process of procuring the first BRT buses for the initial implementation of the overall BRT system was underway.