Johannesburg - The DA in Gauteng has branded the planned implementation of the new e-toll tariffs next month as a new form of highway robbery affecting only Gauteng motorists.
The DA was reacting to Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi’s announcement in the legislature that the new tariffs would be implemented next Thursday.
Vadi was delivering his budget vote on Tuesday when he told the legislature that Transport Minister Dipuo Peters had already gazetted the “reduced tariff structure”.
“The new dispensation shows that we are a responsive and a responsible government; a government that is sensitive to the concerns of its citizens. We ,therefore, wish to reiterate the call made by the premier last Thursday urging motorists and the people of Gauteng to support the new dispensation and to pay their tariffs,” said Vadi.
Both the DA and EFF disagreed.
BACK-PEDDLING ON A PROMISE
DA spokesman on roads and transport Dr Neil Campbell lambasted Premier David Makhura for failing to remove the e-tolls. Campbell said the majority of Gauteng residents remain opposed to the e-tolls, but Makhura had back-pedalled on his promise to the people of the province.
“He could have listened to what the people had said, but he had bowed to pressure and let them down. The DA would certainly take any opportunity to treat Gauteng motorists fairly by giving them the freedom to move about on their roads without being subjected to highway robbery,” Campbell said.
The fabricated, more complicated scheme unveiled by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was misleading, contained blatant inaccuracies and showed no sense of fairness to motorists, he added.
“WE’VE BEEN CONNED”
“If we analyse the so-called ‘reduction’ of e-tolls to 30c/km, we find we have been conned. If every motorist using the e-tolled roads had bought an e-tag on the day tolls were implemented, they would have paid exactly 30c.
“Costing must have been calculated on that fee and certainly does not constitute a reduction. The ceilings are only there to coax motorists into registering, as both the e-toll fee and ceilings will be raised annually, as always happens.”
Campbell maintained that only registered drivers would qualify for the lower rate, saying those against it would pay more. “Gauteng motorists are the only ones in the country required to pay urban e-tolls – other cities’ roads are funded by taxes.
“The iniquitous penalty which was announced, that no vehicle licence renewal will be allowed if toll fees are outstanding, demonstrates unprecedented ANC arrogance,” he added.
Campbell also warned that the province was “likely to see an increase in unlicensed vehicles on our provincial roads ”.
The EFF would “physically destroy” the e-tolls, said party spokesman Ntobeng Ntobeng.
The Star