While Gauteng Premier David Makhuara and President Cyril Ramaphosa have indicated that they will review the e-Toll programme, the same noises were made in 2014 after the ANC in Gauteng suffered badly at the polls.

Premier Makhuara has admitted in the past that the e-Toll issue was a major reason why the ANC did so poorly in the last national and provincial elections, and with a year to go before the next election, the ANC is now trying to save itself.

In 2014 President Ramaphosa met with Premier David Makhura to discuss the possible scrapping of e-Tolls, but then resolved to give motorists a discounted rate on the e-toll price.

This did not last long, as the following year when the cost of e-Tolls increased it went back to the original amount motorists had to pay in 2014.

Despite what the Premier has had to say, yesterday Transport Minister, Blade Nzimande indicated that the e-Toll issue would probably not be scrapped, but the working class would continue to be billed for their road usage.

The people were fooled once, they shan’t be fooled again.

Last year the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) was forced to write off R3.6 billion owed by motorists in e-Toll fees.

The DA has been against e-tolls from the onset as it is adds enormous pressure to our residents, who are already struggling to make ends meet.

It is high-time that an alternative solution is found to e-Tolls and that the Premier provides tangible feedback on his recent engagement with the President, and why he and Minister Nzimande are singing two different tunes.

 

Issued by DA