Telephone cable theft causes severe frustration to TRAC and toll card holders

Trans African Concessions’ Middelburg Toll Plaza is frequently on the receiving end of telephone cable thieves. This severely hampers the effective operation of the toll plaza causing frustration to both workers and motorists.

TRAC’s main operating centre is based at its Nelspruit office. All toll card transactions at toll plazas are updated via this operating centre.

If communications systems are down, such as in the case of cable theft, toll card transactions cannot be updated immediately. Therefore, deposits and transactions on toll cards may only be reflected on statements once the communication system is restored and data could be updated and corrected.

Furthermore, the current load shedding experienced throughout the country at certain times also renders the operating system inoperable causing further backlogs.

TRAC’s toll cards work as a pre-paid system. This means a minimum balance on the cards of
R 200.00 should be maintained. Some card users use their cards as a “pay as you go” system which leads to numerous problems when the above set-backs are experienced. TRAC advises card users to uphold the pre-paid system in their own interests.

As a result of the operational shortcomings currently experienced, TRAC is in the process of installing a wireless communication network along its N4 Toll Route, and a generator at its Nelspruit office. These steps will go a long way to alleviate frustrations.

Concerned customers are advised to get in touch with their local Toll Plaza manager.