The Gauteng branch of the ruling party, the ANC, has reiterated its call for a rethink on e-tolls.<\/p>\n
The call came days after Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said that the largely rejected system is here to stay despite government’s understanding and appreciation of\u00a0 the financial challenges some motorists face.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment has already created space for public transport operators not to pay e-toll and concessions have been given to deserving cases. We\u2019ve also spent more than R1 billion in creating alternative roads in Gauteng,\u201d Peters said, adding that South Africans know there is a \u201cuser pays\u201d principle and this policy needs to be implemented.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need good quality roads, otherwise people will say they have to drive on what\u2019s left of the road and not on the left of the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
ANC Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile said the council had mandated the provincial leadership to engage with national leadership to continue looking into the negative impact of e-tolls, “including the issue of affordability”, Times Live<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n ”In our last conference we said the e-tolls in their current form are unacceptable.”<\/p>\n “Many of our people and small businesses are trying to come into the economic hub and that is where they get affected, by these toll roads.\u201d<\/p>\n EWN<\/a> reported Gauteng premier, David Makhura as saying: \u201cThe feedback we are still getting from people is that the cost of e-tolls and the negative impact is far from having been mitigated.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gauteng branch of the ANC is under pressure following an internal report which showed that the party has lost significant support in the province \u2013 with support in Johannesburg sinking to only 37%, the Sunday Times reported.<\/p>\n E-tolls not going anywhere: transport minister<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Road users \u201cflock\u201d to pay e-tolls for 60% discount<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n R8 million e-toll bill battle heads to court<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sanral vs Outa over e-toll report error<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on e-tolls<\/h3>\n