Johannesburg - Lessons were learnt from the largely rejected e-tolling system, the ANC in Gauteng said on Tuesday.
Provincial chairman Paul Mashatile acknowledged that the public believed they were not properly consulted prior to the system being green-lighted.
“We should accept we needed a longer consultation process,” he told the Gauteng E-toll Advisory Panel at the provincial legislature. “Alternative methods to e-tolling should have been explored prior to the system being implemented.”
He told the panel the current system was a “complete departure” from what government had agreed to with the South African National Roads Agency Limited when the concept of e-tolls was raised in 1997.
IT’S A “NO NO”
“Urban tolling is not conducive to economic growth or development. It's a no-no. You can't do it.”
Mashatile said government could not toll areas which were the core of economic activity. He said people had no problem paying for tolls on long distance routes but the method would not work in urban areas.
Asked by the panel whether the ANC would be willing to compromise on its stance on e-tolls, Mashatile said it stood with what the people wanted.
“Suggesting to our people that they'd pay even if they don't like it - we won't support that,” he said. “We aren't opposed to the user-pay principle but to the current model of the e-toll system.”
Mashatile said they were open-minded regarding other alternatives, but removing the e-toll gantries from Gauteng highways was not a solution.
REVOLT ON THE WAY?
“We reject the reckless calls for the gantries to be removed and destroyed,” he said.
The technology brought in by the e-toll gantries was valuable and alternative uses should be found for them, he said, adding that the South African National Roads Agency Limited and the provincial government could co-operate and review the current system.
“Pursuing the current system will result in revolt.”
The ANC's Brian Hlongwe told the panel keeping the tolling system as it was had the potential to cause unrest.
The ANC delegation suggested several alternatives to the largely rejected e-tolling system, including a national nominal increase in the fuel levy and an increase in vehicle licence fees to cover the debt incurred through the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.
It also suggested that greater emphasis and state resources should go towards improving public transport.
Provincial secretary Hope Papo said Gauteng contributed to the national growth and should therefore be seen as a national asset. However, the money collected could be shared with other provinces.
NO COLLUSION: ANC
The ANC refused to comment on whether there was any collusion in the e-tolling system. Papo said the party could not make a public statement about the matter without having all the facts.
“It has to be investigated whether there was any collusion or not,” he told the panel.
Gauteng premier David Makhura established the panel on July 17 to assess the social and economic impact of e-tolls.
The review panel is intended to examine the economic and social impact of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project and the electronic tolling system set up to fund it.
The panel is expected to present its findings to Makhura at the end of November.
Sapa