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It is pure hypocrisy that government calls on citizens and businesses to buy e-tags and pay E-tolls, when governments themselves refuse to pay E-tolls.

This was confirmed in a reply to a DA Parliamentary question, which revealed that the three worst offending local governments in Gauteng are:

Municipality  Amount owed for E-tolls
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality  R1 838 383
City of Tshwane Metropolitan municipality  R351 644
Emfuleni Local municipality  R127 685

The Government is being blatantly unfair by expecting citizens to do something they aren't prepared to.

The DA has long held that e-tolls are double taxation and that the E-toll scheme is a job killing scheme.

The people of Gauteng have also spoken loud and clear in their rejection of E-tolls, and their voices have been largely ignored. Now even ANC-governed municipalities have rejected E-tolls and refuse to pay them.

Not only are some municipalities not paying their e-toll bills but some have not even signed up for e-tags. Emfuleni local municipality has not registered a single one of its vehicles for e-tags.

It is time that the ANC heeds these calls, recognises the unsuitability of E-tolls, and scraps the job killing scheme for good.

Issued by DA