Outa like a rehabilitated smoker: Sanral
Vusi Mona, head of communications at the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), says that the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) comes across as recently rehabilitated smoker, repeating the same list of half-truths.
Outa was formed in 2012 as a civic action group to challenge Sanral’s decision to implement e-toll system, which went live on Gauteng’s freeways in December.
In an opinion piece on SABreakingNews, Mona said that whenever ‘one’ hears from Outa or reads their various missives, the first reaction is a deep sigh followed by the thought: “can they please find at least one new thing to say?”
“Of course, it is their absolute right to continue repeating the same boring list of misinterpretations, half-truths and suggestio falsi,” Mona said.
“They really do come across as recently rehabilitated smokers – preaching the new health gospel fervently. Just read the latest rerun,” Mona said in response to a column by Outa chair, Wayne Duvenage, in April, in which he said that Gauteng’s e-toll system is far from an efficient user pays system.
“It’s a costly and inefficient ‘User Over-Pays’ system that will fail dismally,” Duvenage said.
Mona continued: “Really, by now it must be generally known, even by Outa, that the fuel levy has not been an option since 1998 and that the funds raised by the levy go into the general revenue fund. And that Sanral executes government policy – not makes it – when it comes to the user-pay principle.”
Wayne Duvenage
Duvenage said that less than 45% of the users of the e-toll system were paying six months after launch, while the rest were “simply travelling with gay abandon”.
“Let us once again repeat: the number of road users is high and rising and exceeds initial expectation. In fact the very positive response to our bond sale is testament to this fact,” Mona said.
He said that road users who have registered for an e-tag, have had no problems. “Those who have not yet registered do experience a diminishing number of problems – which, by the way, are being jointly addressed by ourselves and the service provider, Electronic Tolling Company – that operates the system,” Sanral’s spokesperson said.
“And, yes, sigh – we await yet another rerun,” Mona signed off.
More on Sanral and e-tolls
E-toll inside source spills the beans: Outa
Less than 30% of vehicles have e-tags: Outa
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