Photo: EFF / Twitter
Photo: EFF / Twitter
The EFF and Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has explosively crossed paths on the matter of e-tolls this week. Mbaks, who took his first ride on the Gautrain on Friday, told the public that it’s high-time people started “paying for these roads” to help bolster the local economy.
Fikile Mbalula’s position on e-tolls
This marks a dramatic turnaround from Mbalula, who has previously edged towards the idea of scrapping the pay-as-you-drive gantries. He’s gone from sitting on the fence, to diving head-first into Sanral’s garden:
“The lack of proper communications on the roads tariffs on the e-tolls they have played a roll also in the take up by our road users. We must correct that and this is a start. Our roads are congested and we must reduce the number of cars on the roads and build world-class roads that cause efficiency on cars.”
“Public transport must be a key solution in all of that together with tolls and other measures. I thought I should use this opportunity to encourage users to support these entities. Paying for the roads would create a better economic ecosystem within the transport industry.”
Fikile Mbalula
EFF vow to “take the fight to the streets”
Needless to say, the change in tact from Fikile Mbalula has put the EFF on red alert. An official communication was issued by the party, reiterating their contempt for e-tolls.
They have slamed both the minister and Gauteng Premier David Makhura for both making “empty promises” on the matter. The EFF have also suggested that their members will “take to the streets” in order to keep the boycott against e-tolls going for years to come.
“E-tolls were never in the first place meant to be imposed on the people of Gauteng. National ministers are contradicting themselves on this policy. ANC Premier David Makhura has made several empty promises to scrap the system, only for him to go and distance himself from the matter.”
“E-tolls must be boycotted until the government finds a solution. They cannot impose another tariff which has come from the greed and corrupt interest of politicians. The residents of Gauteng must be prepared to take to the streets if needs be. E-tolls must fall.”
EFF statement
Contempt for e-tolls remains strong
The Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse have also found themselves in the red corner on this issue:
"Pay your #eTolls," says the minister of Transport.
— OUTA (@OUTASA) October 25, 2019
Really @MbalulaFikile?
Rather make the easy decision and end #eTolls today!#EtollsHaveFailed #EtollsMustFall pic.twitter.com/ORng0flC8v
- You can read the full EFF statement here:
EFF Statement on E-Tolls: The Boycott Must Continue. pic.twitter.com/Y5j2Nr8VQD
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 25, 2019
