The implementation of e-tolling is on hold in the wake of an interdict prohibiting the implementation of e-tolling by the SA National Roads Agency. The application was brought by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance.

Sanral has confirmed that it has 43 outlets in malls in operation. Only 16 of them were intended to be permanent, according to the agency's website.

''The e-toll project has not been cancelled and it is for this reason that customer services still need to be supplied to e-toll account holders,'' Sanral said.

The agency confirmed that leases had been signed with the shopping centres for the outlets, but that costs were being cut by ''optimising'' work shifts and staffing.

Outa claims it has "done Sanral a favour" by obtaining an interdict against Gauteng e-tolling.

''They [Sanral] were simply not ready,'' said Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage, adding: ''They might not be ready even now.''

He said the government had had two opportunities in the past few months to institute a fuel levy relatively painlessly.

By simply not lowering the fuel price by as much as it did, the government could have made progress towards financing the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, he said.

Outa is preparing for battle against the Treasury in the Constitutional Court.

''It is clear to us that they want to fight us,'' said Duvenage. ''They still have the appetite to toll.''

Labour has expressed its opposition to e-tolling but has not taken the litigation route.

''A lot of people think e-tolling is over after we got the interdict. It's not. It is still a very real threat," Duvenage said.