Skhumbuzo Macozoma - Users Must Pay For Roads Says SANRAL CEO
Skhumbuzo Macozoma - Users Must Pay For Roads Says SANRAL CEO



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Skhumbuzo Macozoma - Users Must Pay For Roads Says SANRAL CEO

2018-11-28

Although South Africa has the 10th largest road network in the world, its need and efficient usage must be
interrogated, says Skhumbuzo Macozoma, CEO of the SA National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL).

He said with political changes since democracy, employees were living closer to their workplaces.

Macozoma was addressing a conference themed “Roads to Social and Economic Growth” arranged by the South African Road Federation (SARF) in association with the Washingtonbased International Road Federation (IRF) and the Parisbased World Roads Association (PIARC), in Durban.

Macozoma said South Africa has a total road network of 750 000 kilometres (158 124 paved and 591 876 gravel). Of this SANRAL is responsible for 22 214 kilometres of the road system.

He said consumers and road users today demand rapid mobility with efficiencies and minimal costs.

Mixed use commercial and residential developments were giving rise to shorter travel distances, thus raising questions around roads that previously linked cities to workers in farflung areas.

Macozoma said questions must be asked about the most suitable funding model for roads infrastructure. He said the fuel levy provided insufficient funding. “The future contribution of the fuel levy to the Central Revenue Fund is uncertain with the projected electric car take-off in 2022 and established vehicle efficiency technologies.

“The total estimated funding requirements to sustain the South African road network, including addressing backlogs in surfacing and capacity expansion is R116.1 bn. The current allocation for the road network is
R52 bn. What can we afford and how do we prioritise?”

He proposed that a funding policy for transport infrastructure and road infrastructure must be driven by National Treasury working with sector departments. Macozoma said economic and social economic infrastructure differentiation was imperative in determining future funding models.

“Road users must be directly responsible for economic infrastructure, such as roads. The Government must provide for social infrastructure such as housing, schools and hospitals. “Future tax or pricing mechanisms are required for road users. Equity and direct user charging must be embedded in such future
funding sources.”




Skhumbuzo Macozoma - Users Must Pay For Roads Says SANRAL CEO

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