The ANC in Gauteng on Sunday resolved to oppose e-tolls in the province.<\/p>\n
Secretary Hope Papo read a declaration at the three-day elective conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current system is too expensive, traffic flows have been negatively affected. We would rather have a fuel levy,\u201d said Papo to applause from hundreds of delegates.<\/p>\n
He said the party provincial structure would seek to make submissions to a review panel established by Gauteng Premier David Makhura to probe the socio-economic impact of the e-tolls.<\/p>\n
President Jacob Zuma did not address an ANC Gauteng elective conference in Pretoria as scheduled on Sunday.<\/p>\n
A programme of the three-day summit, issued on Friday by the provincial structure, indicated that Zuma would address delegates on Sunday.<\/p>\n
In Zuma\u2019s place, African National Congress deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte gave a brief speech.<\/p>\n
Former arts and culture minister Paul Mashatile was re-elected chairman of the province, while premier David Makhura was elected deputy chairman.<\/p>\n
Mashatile was booted out of Cabinet when President Zuma announced a reshuffle in May. He was replaced by Nathi Mthethwa who was moved from the police ministry.<\/p>\n
The outspoken former Gauteng premier has maintained a hardline stance on e-tolling in the province.<\/p>\n
At the conference on Friday, he told delegates that government agencies like the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) did not run the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that I don\u2019t like Sanral, but they must know their place. Government agencies don\u2019t run the country, but the ANC does. I don\u2019t like government agencies that take on politicians,\u201d Mashatile said to applause and whistling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey must go and be elected first. We appoint officials to implement the policies of the ANC. Sanral cannot tell us what to do. We tell them what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, party spokesman Zizi Kodwa said Zuma could not speak at the conference because he had another function to attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther people had pre-arranged programmes which unfortunately could not be changed\u2026 He [Zuma] was hoping [to] finish on time today, but the programme is keeping him long.\u201d<\/p>\n
He explained that Zuma had to attend an education trust function in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, despite being scheduled to deliver closing remarks at the ANC conference at 1pm.<\/p>\n
This article was first published on MyBroadband<\/a>.<\/p>\n Users paying e-toll bills regularly: Sanral<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-toll services rated as \u201cvery poor\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on e-tolls<\/h3>\n