The Department of Transport has revealed that the decision to temporarily suspend the implementation of electronic toll-road fees in Gauteng was made in an effort to avoid "choking" the economy.

Unveiling the Gauteng Toll Steering Committee on Tuesday, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said this committee would address, on a "consultative basis", the proposed tariff structure.

The steering committee was also charged with reviewing the financial assumptions underpinning the current proposed tariff structure, Ndebele said.

On February 22, Ndebele and Gauteng's premier, Nomvula Mokonyane, agreed to suspend the gazetting of the new electronic toll-road fees of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).

The proposed fees had sparked a public outcry and would have seen Gauteng's car users paying 66c per kilometre when the province's open-road toll collection system went live on June 23.

In terms of this fee structure, it would cost a motorist 1,500 rand a month to travel from Johannesburg to Pretoria.

On Tuesday, Ndebele said: "We are consulting because we do not want to choke the economy and people of Gauteng."

The minister said the steering committee was chaired by the director-general of the Department of Transport, George Mahlalela.

Ndebele said that, after consultation with all stakeholders, Mahlalela would compile a report for consideration of the political principals by the end of April.

The committee is also made up Kgaugelo Lekgoro, who is from the office of the Premier, Benny Monama, the head of the transport department in Gauteng, and Nazir Alli, CEO of South African National Roads Limited (SANRAL).

The steering committee will consider various funding options, including their financial implications, and make a recommendation on the most appropriate option.