Tembisans reject e-tolls
The Tembisan asked locals about their take on the issue.
Last week, transport minister Dipuo Peters announced that e-tolls in Gauteng will start operating on December 3. Labour unions and different NGOs tried hard to convince the government that e-tolling is not the right way to go, as people are already taxed to the max, and cannot afford to pay for the tolls. But the minister made it loud and clear that from December 3, people have to fork out money to use the roads. The Tembisan asked locals about their take on the issue.
Moses Mngomezulu said, “The government must find other ways to pay the money allegedly borrowed to build the roads. Even though I do not have a car, I think asking people to pay for the e-tolls will have a negative effect on the people of Gauteng. But it looks like there are a lot of politics involved in the matter. I just hope that the government will try to find alternative ways of raising the money for the e-tolls, before things go from bad to worse.”
Mutshidzi Marivhula said, “Trying to impose the e-tolls on the people is a recipe for disaster in Gauteng. People still live in abject poverty 20 years into democracy. The majority of those who live in townships are crammed into dilapidated shacks. Very few have carsand now the government want to take the little they have through e-tolls. I think the only option left is to ask God to intervene on behalf of the poor. “
Stanley Maholobela said, “When e-toll gantries were erected, many thought they were part of the 2010 World Cup project. They were surprised when the government started talking about the e-tolls. But I believe the government will realise they are making a mistake and will stop milking residents. We have to think like Africans in Africa, because if we think like Europeans in Africa, we will soon forget that most of our people are not working, and even those who are working are getting very little.”
Kennedy Makganyuga said, “I still do not believe that people are being asked to pay for the e-tolls because South Africans are paying a lot at the moment. The price of petrol is too high in this countryand cars are always taxed for using roads. Why don’t they use the tax from petrol and cars to pay the e-tolls? Who is going to benefit from the money collected from the e-tolls? It is time for the government to think about the people of this country.”
Clement Ndou said, “The e-tolls will affect motorists in a bad way. Relatives are no longer going to visit each other. When people from other provinces think of visiting their relatives in Gauteng, they have to think twice. This will also affect the economy when it comes to car manufacturing companies, because very few people are going to afford cars because of the e-tolls. You have to add at least R500 a month on top of the instalments and petrol expenses. Life is going to be very, very expensive in Gauteng.”
