The Democratic Alliance (DA) says that the collective bill for road users not paying their e-toll bill has reached just short of R1 billion.<\/p>\n
A recent reply to a DA Parliamentary question revealed that of the 1,134,834 unaudited registered and active accounts identified on the e-tolls network, as at 31 May 2014, overdue payments of over three months amounted to R156,623,567.<\/p>\n
Amounts owed by road users dating less than 90 days are said to amount to R995,362,885, the DA said.<\/p>\n
“Considering the system only came online in early December of 2013, the level of overdue payments act as yet another indicator that motorists on South Africa\u2019s roads continue to reject the system,” said Manny de Freitas, DA Shadow Minister of Transport.<\/p>\n
“This taken together with the so called \u201creview\u201d of the e-tolling project by Gauteng Premier David Makhura \u2013 itself an admission of a failing system \u2013 Parliament must give expression to the South Africans wishes and push for the complete review of the e-toll scheme, with the view of implementing its dissolution,” the shadow minister said.<\/p>\n
The e-toll system was implemented across Gauteng on December 3, following several court challenges and widespread public opposition.<\/p>\n
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), on Thursday, called on motorists in Gauteng to continue to use the highways without paying the e-toll bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are calling upon our people to continue to defy the system and those who received the bills must burn them,\u201d said Gauteng provincial secretary Dumisani Dakile.<\/p>\n
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, recently announced a panel of 15 people appointed to assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolls in the province.<\/p>\n
The panel will assess the effect of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project on the economy and on Gauteng residents.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the week, Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, called for e-toll prosecutions to be put on ice.<\/p>\n
“The DA will continue to lead the fight against e-tolls in Parliament on behalf of the people of South Africa,” de Freitas said.<\/p>\n
Still not paying for e-tolls?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Burn your e-toll bills: Cosatu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Sanral obeys its master on e-toll prosecutions<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Sanral takes swipe at Gauteng Premier over e-tolls<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n