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The Portfolio Committee on Transport heard today that the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) is not opposed to e-tolling as people need to pay in order to have good road infrastructure.

Mr Wayne Duwenage, OUTA Chairperson, told the Committee that OUTA supported the user-pay-principle but there was a lack of consultation when the e-toll system was introduced.

The Acting Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Leonard Ramatlakane, welcomed OUTA’s position and said there seemed to be general agreement on the necessity for improved and well maintained infrastructure.

“Infrastructure investment, particularly roads, is indeed critical. The issue of consultations is open for discussions as a number of them happened in Gauteng over a period of time. The (Gauteng) Premier was involved at some point as well as the Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. If the claim is that they were not adequate, then OUTA should be clear in making that case,” Mr Ramatlakane said.

“Infrastructure does not fall out of the sky, people have to pay for the services,” Mr Duwenage said. He also raised an issue with collusive behaviour of the companies that were involved in the construction of the Gauteng freeway roads project, and what he described as a lack of interest on the part of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) to pursue civil claims against those companies.
“Collusion in the construction sector is cancerous and needs to be dealt with. Collusion stands rejected and Members agree that specialised corruption should be fought and uprooted,” Mr Ramatlakane said.

The Committee will seek an update from SANRAL as to what has been done with regards to collusive behaviour during the construction phase of the e-tolls in Gauteng.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson, Mr Leonard Ramatlakane