The 30-day public consultation process started today, after Cabinet agreed on revised tariffs for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.

After this period, 14 days would be set aside for Transport Minister Ben Martins to “apply his mind”, and then another 14 days for gazetting.

This would give a total of 58 days before e-tolling was put into effect.

Martins told reporters in Pretoria today: “This marks the beginning of a 30-day period for public comment.

“Government will, at the end of the 30 days, having considered the views of the public, publish final tariffs.”

A lowering of tariffs was also announced today.

The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) said the e-toll tariff for light vehicles with e-tags had been reduced to 30c/km.

This was down from the 40c/km decided on last year, said Sanral’s toll and traffic manager Alex van Niekerk.

The base tariff for light vehicles would remain at 58c/km.

Van Niekerk said the e-tag tariff for motorcycles had been dropped from 24c/km to 18c/km, for medium heavy vehicles (Class B) from R1/km to 75c/km, and heavy vehicles (Class C) from R2/km to R1.50/km.

This was according to the figures released by Van Niekerk.