Long Overdue Scrapping of E-tolls a Victory for Gauteng Motorists, not Lesufi’s Beleaguered Government
Funzi Ngobeni
ActionSA Gauteng Premier Candidate
ActionSA welcomes the scrapping of the e-tolls, which is long overdue. This is a massive victory for the residents of Gauteng, not Premier Panyaza Lesufi or his government. We are, however, aware that the only reason the Premier responded positively is because of the upcoming elections. It was not in good faith that this came to an end.
For years, ActionSA and the residents of Gauteng have raised our objections to this system, which was imposed without thorough consultation, resulting in motorists and commuters having to pay thousands in e-tolls. A system they never accepted.
It is ridiculous that Lesufi wants to take credit for this as a victory when in fact it is a defeat for his party, the ANC, that set up the whole e-toll system without sufficient engagement with road users.
It is tragic that it took this long for it to be scrapped. Over a year has passed since the Premier’s inaugural State of the Province Address, where he promised to begin the process of delinking and switching off e-tolls.
For years, announcements and deadlines have been made and missed by the government. Just last year, in January, Lesufi promised that R6.9 billion would be refunded to the 17.9% of Gauteng drivers who have been paying e-tolls; however, that did not transpire.
When ActionSA takes over, we commit to consulting with society before we introduce any major systems. ActionSA is confident that the people of Gauteng will not buy into this smokescreen and that their focus is on unseating the ANC in the next 89 days.
Long Overdue Scrapping of E-tolls a Victory for Gauteng Motorists, not Lesufi’s Beleaguered Government
ActionSA welcomes the scrapping of the e-tolls, which is long overdue. This is a massive victory for the residents of Gauteng, not Premier Panyaza Lesufi or his government. We are, however, aware that the only reason the Premier responded positively is because of the upcoming elections. It was not in good faith that this came to an end.
For years, ActionSA and the residents of Gauteng have raised our objections to this system, which was imposed without thorough consultation, resulting in motorists and commuters having to pay thousands in e-tolls. A system they never accepted.
It is ridiculous that Lesufi wants to take credit for this as a victory when in fact it is a defeat for his party, the ANC, that set up the whole e-toll system without sufficient engagement with road users.
It is tragic that it took this long for it to be scrapped. Over a year has passed since the Premier’s inaugural State of the Province Address, where he promised to begin the process of delinking and switching off e-tolls.
For years, announcements and deadlines have been made and missed by the government. Just last year, in January, Lesufi promised that R6.9 billion would be refunded to the 17.9% of Gauteng drivers who have been paying e-tolls; however, that did not transpire.
When ActionSA takes over, we commit to consulting with society before we introduce any major systems. ActionSA is confident that the people of Gauteng will not buy into this smokescreen and that their focus is on unseating the ANC in the next 89 days.