Moves are afoot to standardise road user fees across the region – and a task team comprising the SA Department of Transport (DoT) and the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) has been established to take the process forward.
Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, said the South African government was aware of exorbitant fees applied by African countries to foreign-registered vehicles.
Speaking at a cross-border road transport breakfast forum in Pretoria last week, Chikunga said the DoT had considered and acceded to appeals by freight operators to reciprocate, not with any punitive intent, but to ensure standardisation, harmonisation and fair treatment in the region.
Chikunga said the CBRTA had conducted a study of all cross-border charges and had developed a business case for government to consider introducing similar charges as a way of equalising the regulatory impact on the sector.
While South African vehicle standards are not recognised by some of its neighbours, Chikunga claimed there was commitment from the Zambian and Zimbabwean authorities to rectify this.
The CBRTA will monitor adherence to the commitments and escalate serious issues to the ministry for intervention when required.
South African freight operators are currently required to buy third party insurance cover when entering neighbouring countries, like Zambia, despite the fact that they already have South African insurance.
Chikunga explained the matter had been taken up at a binational commission between South Africa and Zambia, where it was resolved that the finance and transport subcommittees of the commission would jointly come up with a solution.
Zambia is also considering the establishment of a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.