Transport minister “out of touch with reality”: DA
Transport Minister Dipuo Peters is “out of touch with reality” regarding e-tolling, the DA said on Friday.
“The SA National Roads Agency Ltd’s (Sanral) e-toll contract documents confirm that opposition to e-tolls grew from 39 percent to 48 percent between April 2009 and June 2009 alone,” Democratic Alliance spokesman Ian Ollis said in a statement.
Despite the mounting opposition to e-tolls, Peters, President Jacob Zuma, and Sanral were forging ahead with implementation of e-tolling.
“[Peters’] comments this week on the implementation of e-tolling show that she is out of touch with reality,” Ollis said.
Peters reportedly said “a few number of people” had spoken out against e-tolling.
“I don’t know whether we can say it is unpopular with motorists. It’s better for you to get your tag in time,” Peters said.
On Friday, the SABC reported that government intended to publicise the proposed e-toll tariffs next week.
This was with a view to implementing them by the end of November, the broadcaster reported.
“After the tariffs are advertised, there will be a period of 30 days for public comment,” Peters said.
She told the SABC she believed that after this period had ended, Sanral would be able to implement the tolls within one or two weeks.
The Supreme Court of Appeal reserved judgment late last month on a legal challenge by lobby group Opposition To Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa).
Ollis vowed that the DA would continue to fight against open road tolling as a solution to fund road upgrades and maintenance in Gauteng.
“This is not the end of the road,” he said.
“We cannot and will not support e-tolling as it will be disastrous to the economy and people of Gauteng. The DA listened to the people’s opposition to e-tolls and successfully halted e-tolls in the Western Cape,” he said.
ANC e-tolls billboard in Johannesburg
Controversial billboards
On Friday, it was reported that three massive billboards, mocking the ruling ANC and e-tolls had been anonymously erected on Johannesburg highways.
Many had speculated that Outa was behind the move, however the group has issued a statement denying anything to do with the adverts.
“Outa does not have funds to pay for such advertising and it is not for Outa to enter into the political arena. It does however bring a thought provoking angle to a highly emotive matter of which there is no doubt that e-tolling is and will remain a political issue,” said Outa head, Wayne Duvenage.
The Outa head said that e-tolling is a matter that was forced through the parliamentary process by one political party only – being the ANC – adding that every other political party had voted against the signing of the Transport and Related Matters Amendment Bill.
“So I guess the billboards are relatively factual – although, personally speaking, I’m not so sure the ANC are proud of what they are doing here and think a more apt line would be: e-Tolls, forcibly brought to you by the ANC,” Duvenage said.
The ANC also dismissed any part or knowledge of the erected billboards.
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu told the New Age: “I can tell you it is definitely not us that is behind the billboards. The ANC would have branded it with the logo and ANC colours if it was us.”
(With Sapa)
More on e-tolls
People want e-tolls: Transport Minister
E-tolls or fuel levy: Sanral can’t have both
E-tolls will force SA middle class into poverty
E-toll bill signing an insult: DA
Signing e-toll bill unwise: Outa
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