Pretoria - The Democratic Alliance will continue to fight the Gauteng electronic tolling system, parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said on Thursday.
“The fight continues. The system is failing, no one is buying e-tags,” he told party supporters in Pretoria.
He led a protest outside the national department of transport offices.
“This is our fight. Bring back our roads. We want to drive on our roads for free. We pay tax, why do we have to be taxed again to use freeways,” he said to the applause of the crowd.
Party members waved placards calling on Transport Minister Dipuo Peters to listen to Gauteng premier David Makhura.
Makhura has established a panel to assess the social and economic impact of e-tolls.
The DA wanted Peters to put e-tolls on hold until the provincial panel completed its work and tabled its finding.
Motorists flashed their lights and hooted as they drove past the protesters.
Maimane said the ANC-led government was not listening to the will of the people and cared only about President Jacob Zuma.
“If there was an e-toll in Nkandla it could have been long removed because the ANC cares for only one person.”
He said the ANC itself had a mixed stance on e-tolls.
“Premier Makhura in Gauteng does not want e-tolls while minister Peters in the national Parliament wants them. The ANC is confused on this issue.”
He proposed a fuel levy as an alternative to e-tolls as it would cost less.
In a memorandum addressed to the transport ministry the DA demanded that e-tolls be scrapped.
Transport spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso said they received the memorandum and would respond to its contents accordingly.
The SA National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) said over a million people had registered for e-tags.
“The number is currently 1 292 323. There continues to be a slow increase in the number of registrations,” spokesman Vusi Mona said in a statement.
Sapa