South Africa's e-toll system resumes operation following breakdown

South Africa's much-opposed e-tolling system resumed operation on Wednesday after a breakdown as a result of evacuations caused by a threat. The system's Central Operations Center in Midrand near Johannesburg was shut down on Tuesday after an envelope containing a suspicious substance, believed to be anthrax, was found there. All the staff were evacuated following the threat, resulting in the shutting down of the system. But the white substance was found to be harmless after a test by the Tshwane (Pretoria) Emergency Services and the South African Police Services (SAPS). The building was treated as a crime scene and staff members who were exposed to the substance in the envelope were taken to hospital, as a precautionary measure, for medical examinations. "Our priority was to ensure the safety of the people working in the building. They received trauma counselling for the anxiety caused by this incident," said Nazir Alli, CEO of the South African National Rail Agency Limited (SANRAL) which manages the e- toll system. SANRAL said it is working with the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book. The incident highlights growing opposition to the e-toll system. In defiance of strong public opposition, the South African government introduced the system in December last year in Gauteng Province, the economic hub in the country. More than one month after the system kick-started, most road users in Gauteng refuse to buy e-tags. SANRAL has threatened to impose a heavy fine on untagged road users or even take legal action against them. Opponents argue that the project will add to the burdens of the poor, who will be forced to pay to travel on highways previously free of charge. But the government maintains that the system is introduced as Gauteng, which generates nearly 38 percent of the total value of South Africa's economic activities, has developed beyond its infrastructural capabilities with roads in general unable to keep up with increasing traffic demands. SANRAL upgraded the roads around Johannesburg at a cost of 20 billion rands (about 185 million U. S. dollars). The funding for these improvements was sourced by SANRAL through the sale of monthly bonds. These bonds are to be repaid over 24 years.