While there has been widespread rejection to the revised e-toll tariffs announced on Wednesday‚ a large debt counselling company said they “will bring welcome relief to hard-pressed consumers”.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said that road users in Gauteng will pay up to 50% less a month‚ while those with outstanding amounts owed to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) will be offered a 60% discount to settle their bills.

He also said that drivers of light motor vehicles will now pay a maximum of R225 a month‚ half what is currently charged.

Debt Rescue CEO Neil Roets said the new fees would bring some relief from the crushing debt load most South Africans had to cope with.

“The overwhelming majority of South Africans are so deep in debt that even a slight increase in the cost of essential goods and services could plunge them into a disastrous situation that would be very difficult to recover from‚” said Roets.

He‚ however‚ added that while it isn’t “going to significantly change the overall indebtedness of consumers but will bring some relief”.

That is‚ “until the new Eskom tariff and a potential fuel price increase in the near future will wipe out these gains”.