We have signed all the petitions, complained to anyone who will listen, objected when and where we could but, at the end of the day, we are going to pay those toll fees!
We as the public, just have no say in this. Why, however, are the taxis permitted to use the roads for free? Because everyone is intimidated by these taxis (including the government) and no-one in authority is prepared to go against them.
How great taxi drivers and owners must feel with this power in their hands! What about the unemployed? What about old age pensioners? Why do they not get to use the roads for free?
My biggest question however is why the government is so insistent that e-tolling will be operational before the end of the year? I have no doubt that the petrol price will, as per usual at this time of the year, also go up! Is this to ensure that all the big heads running the e-toll fiasco want to ensure that their Xmas is very festive and paid for out of our fees?
The ever paying public who can still afford to do so, would like to take their families on holiday – maybe not any longer as the toll fees would deplete any spare money they might have. Those who do not go on holiday would like to spoil themselves and their families over the festive period – maybe no longer as the toll fees would also make this impossible.
A season of good will and happiness is soon to be a thing of the past as consumers just cannot afford increased food and clothing prices, petrol increases and now the added burden of toll fees. South Africa is now definitely a 3rd world country!
I say “go Cosatu, burn those gantries down!”
Dawne
