The ANC in Gauteng on Tuesday refused to comment on whether there was any collusion in the e-tolling system.<\/p>\n
Provincial secretary Hope Papo said the party could not make a public statement about the matter without having all the facts.<\/p>\n
“It has to be investigated whether there was any collusion or not,” he told the Gauteng Advisory Panel on e-tolls at the provincial legislature.<\/p>\n
The ANC’s Brian Hlongwe said keeping the tolling system as it was had the potential to cause unrest.<\/p>\n
“Pursuing the current system will result in revolt,” he told the panel.<\/p>\n
Gauteng premier David Makhura established the panel on July 17 to assess the social and economic impact of e-tolls.<\/p>\n
The review panel is intended to examine the economic and social impact of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) and the electronic tolling system set up to fund it.<\/p>\n
The panel is expected to present its findings to Makhura at the end of November.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile said removing the e-toll gantries from Gauteng highways was not a solution.<\/p>\n
“We reject the reckless calls for the gantries to be removed and destroyed,” he said.<\/p>\n
The technology brought in by the e-toll gantries was valuable and alternative uses should be found for them.<\/p>\n
Mashatile led a large delegation to the hearings.<\/p>\n
The ANC provided a few solutions to the largely rejected e-tolling system, including a national nominal increase in the fuel levy and an increase in vehicle licence fees to cover the debt incurred through the GFIP.<\/p>\n
Papo said Gauteng contributed to the national growth and should therefore be seen as a national asset.<\/p>\n
However, the money collected could be shared with other provinces.<\/p>\n
“We aren’t opposed to the user-pay principle but to the current model of the e-toll system,” said Mashatile.<\/p>\n
He said they were open-minded regarding other alternatives.<\/p>\n
The ANC suggested that greater emphasis and state resources should go towards improving public transport.<\/p>\n
E-tolls not a national product: ANC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-tolls not a decision for transport minister: Outa<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-tolls putting strain on other spheres of government<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n