All that stood between Gauteng motorists and the start of e-tolling on the province’s major highways was President Jacob Zuma's signature.

Deputy Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said on Monday that her department was awaiting the President’s signature on the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill, before the South African National Roads Agency Limited would start the roll-out of e-tolling in Gauteng.

Speaking at a media briefing following her keynote address at the Southern African Transport Conference, held in Pretoria, she emphasised that e-tolling would definitely go ahead.

Public resistance against the project had been building steadily, with the African National Congress facing opposition from many sources, including tripartite alliance member the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

Meanwhile, Chikunga said that the Department of Transport was hopeful that Cabinet would approve the National Transport Master Plan (Natmap) this year.

The approval of the master plan had been delayed as it had to be realigned with government’s National Development Plan (NDP).

Natmap preceded the NDP.

“We had to realign Natmap to the NDP. This has now happened and Natmap is on route to Cabinet,” Chikunga stated.