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Government and religious leaders under the banners of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the National Interfaith Council of SA and the National Religious Association for Social Development, held their last round of consultations on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) at the Union Building this morning.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on GFIP was led by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and comprised the Minister of Transport Ben Martins, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane, Minister of Finance Pravin Grodhan, the Minister of Environmental and Water Affairs Edna Molewa, Deputy Minister of Transport Sindi Chikunga, Deputy Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene and the MEC of Roads and Transport in Gauteng Ismael Vadi.

The religious leaders’ delegation was led by Rev Dr. Andre Bartlett and Rev Gift Moerane.

Government and the religious leaders agree on the user-pay principle for the development of road infrastructure.

They further agree that the e-toll system should be part of a mix of mechanisms to address the problem of congestion on the GFIP road network. They are also of the same view that the system should be used to finance the construction of roads.

The religious leaders are satisfied that government has adequately addressed their concerns which were raised at an earlier meeting.

Government and the religious leaders committed themselves to communicate more frequently and to share information on matters that concern the public, including government’s budgeting processes.

Deputy President Motlanthe has expressed confidence that a solution similar to the one reached with the leadership of the religious community will be reached with other concerned stakeholders.