Members of a panel that will review the impact of e-tolls in Gauteng are to be announced on Thursday, 10 July 2014, premier David Makhura\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n
The announcement would be made at his offices in Johannesburg at 2pm that day, it said in a statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
On June 27, Makhura announced the review during his state-of-the-province address in Thokoza, on the East Rand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shall set up a panel to review the impact of e-tolls and invite new proposals on how we can find a lasting solution to this matter, working with the national government, municipalities and all sectors of society,\u201d he said at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we shall not promise easy solutions and claim easy victories, we must make it clear that we cannot close our eyes to the cries of sectors of our population who are severely affected by the cost of travelling across the province.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said deliberations were needed on how to finance road infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cI urge those who have vehicles to continue to pay [e-tolls] while we are finding a lasting solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance chairman Wayne Duvenage welcomed the move, saying Makhura appeared to have a clear understanding of the \u201cirrationality\u201d and high costs of the system, which was unaffordable to thousands of people.<\/p>\n
E-tolling was implemented in Gauteng in December despite several court challenges to halt the project.<\/p>\n
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