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Transport Portfolio Chairperson Ruth Bhengu has agreed to investigate three sets of e-toll related regulations that were gazetted by former Transport Minister, S’bu Ndebele, without complying with the legislative requirement that a draft version must first be sent to Parliament for input.

The DA has been highlighting this contravention since April and has also written to the Speaker in this regard.

The following regulations were gazetted without the input of Parliament in terms of the National Road Traffic Act, section 75(6):

• 27 March 2012, No. 35182: The introduction of a special new traffic police force or “peace officers”. This notice stated that interested persons had only 20 days, instead of the 28 required by the Act, to make their thoughts on the matter known. The regulations were also never brought before Parliament for comment
• 13 April 2012, No. 35263: Toll tariffs for the different categories of road users and classes of motor vehicles. This notice stated that the tariffs were payable from 30 April 2012, giving the public 17 days to give their thoughts on the matter. This was never brought before Parliament for comment.  
• 8 June 2012, No. 35413: Amendment of the National Road Traffic Regulations. These amendments, too, were never brought before Parliament for comment.

The DA welcomes the fact that proper parliamentary oversight over legislation and regulations is finally taking place.

Government cannot be allowed to slip through regulations guiding the implementation of the deeply unpopular e-tolls without appropriate oversight.

The DA will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that regulations relating to e-tolling follow due process and are properly discussed and considered before being implemented.

The DA remains opposed to the Gauteng e-toll as more efficient methods of funding are available to government.