E-tolls saga: opportunistic politicians with an eye on elections

Surprise, surprise, surprise. In the wake of The Citizen story this week about e-tolls rising from the dead, the ANC Gauteng’s politicians quickly jumped around to re-assert their opposition to what is, effectively, yet another tax.

Perhaps they thought no one would notice that premier David Makhura coyly ignored the topic – one of the biggest political elephants in the Gauteng political room – during his State Of the Province Address last week.

Perhaps they thought no one would put too much stock in Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s re-statement of his position that, when it comes to the development and expansion of infrastructure, then “users” must pay … regardless if they are already being taxed to the hilt.

Now, says the ANC in Gauteng, it would be “unfair” to burden motorists in the province with the duty of paying for the Gauteng Free Improvement Project.

Funnily enough, there are local government elections looming later this year and, should the local ANC leadership not vigorously oppose the unpopular e-toll scheme, they could find themselves ousted in some areas.

We would guess that, despite end of March deadline for a final decision on e-tolls, nothing much will happen until after the local government polls.

After that, get ready to pay.

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