In the middle of a cost of living crisis, Gauteng motorists are waiting to hear from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana whether or not e-tolls will finally be scrapped. Image: Wikimedia Commons/JMK
Will e-tolls be finally scrapped? Here’s what we know so far
Gauteng motorists are anxiously waiting to hear whether or not e-tolls will be scrapped as Godongwana will deliver his MTBPS.
In the middle of a cost of living crisis, Gauteng motorists are waiting to hear from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana whether or not e-tolls will finally be scrapped. Image: Wikimedia Commons/JMK
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) is positive that Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana will announce that e-tolls in Gauteng will finally be scrapped.
Godongwana is expected to deliver his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in Parliament on Wednesday, 26 October and he is expected to announce the Cabinet’s decision on a way forward regarding e-tolls as Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has failed to honour his promises regarding announcements on the road payment system.
WILL E-TOLLS 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. Their assertion then, as it is now, is that the government must fund the GFIP through other means.
The Automobile Association said the compliance rate for e-toll payments is already below 20% meaning Gauteng motorists have clearly communicated their position to government. A number of political parties and organisations have launched petitions calling for the road payment system to be scrapped and for motorists not to pay until government decides to find other means to fund the project.
“It’s now time government makes a formal statement on their position on e-tolls and gives the province’s citizens assurances that it will scrap the system and not pursue any debts owed. In addition to cancelling old debt, all money collected to date must be paid back,” it said.
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Furthermore, the Association said only a decision to scrap the system will be acceptable to citizens, and it must be done now as failure to do this will further harden people’s attitudes to e-tolls and will, in any event, result in a further decline in compliance levels.
“Citizens are already extremely cash-strapped and can simply not bail the government out of a situation it was warned would fail. To continue with the system now would send a message of a government who doesn’t care about the financial crises of its people, nor that it is doing anything to mitigate against those challenges. Minister Godongwana now has a perfect opportunity to indicate this is not the case and to finally scrap this system.”
AA
On 7 October 2022 Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said he has tasked new Transport and Logistics MEC in the province, Jacob Mamabolo to ensure that e-tolls are scrapped.
ALSO READ: Budget 2022: Government ‘undecided’ on scrapping of e-tolls in Gauteng
