E-tolls scrapped: ANC pats itself on the back

The African National Congress (ANC) says its government is a listening and caring one, as e-tolls will finally be scrapped in April.

According to a government gazette published on Thursday, 28 March, gantries will be scrapped on 11 April.

ANC WEIGHS IN ON SCRAPPING OF E-TOLLS

Initially, 31 December 2022 was pencilled as the day to deactivate the e-tolls billing system. However, due to the need to finalise critical components of the MOU between the National Government and the Gauteng Provincial Government, it was announced that the matter would be finalised in 2023. Following years of backtracking on promises, e-tolls will finally be scrapped.

Since its introduction in December 2013, the payment of e-tolls for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) has been a contentious issue, with many motorists in the province refusing to pay. Residents called for the government to fund the GFIP through other means.

People protesting against the gantries in Johannesburg. Image: Flickr/Siyabonga Africa.

On Wednesday, 27 March, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga finally signed the gazette on the withdrawal of the controversial e-tolls.

Following the decision, the ANC said it proves the party represents the people’s true views.

“The ANC-led Gauteng government, working with law enforcement agencies, will implement its plans to repurpose the e-toll infrastructure to improve mobility, road safety, and combat crime.

“The use of the e-tolls to combat crime fits perfectly in the plans of the ANC government to use technology such as facial recognition to combat crime,” the party said.

OUTA WECOMES LONG-AWAITED DECISION

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) which has been at the forefront in the fight against e-tolls has welcomed the decision.

Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage said the conflict that arose over the gantries was presided over by seven ministers of transport, a trail of finance ministers and three presidents, who collectively were unable to resolve the problem for a period of twelve years.

“The scheme had all the signs of failure long before it was launched in December 2013, yet government proceeded without listening to its citizens. Despite evidence-based research from Oouta pointing to the scheme’s looming failures, government persisted for years, resulting in the waste of billions of rand in taxpayers’ money on this expensive and grossly ineffective collection scheme,” Duvenage said.

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