E-tolling company says Makhura off the mark by blaming them for living costs

The company that collects e-toll debt has come out strongly against Gauteng premier David Makhura on comments he made at his recent state of the province address (Sopa), reports the Centurion Rekord.

On Monday, Makhura again called for the scrapping of the e-toll system.

The premier blamed the system for the increases in the cost of living and labelled it “unsustainable”.

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However, Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) strongly questioned the validity of the claims.

“Makhura’s statement appears to be more opinion than fact, as no mention was made of how this conclusion was reached,” said ETC chief executive Coenie Vermaak.

Vermaak said it was “far more likely” that increased fuel prices, poor roads and increased traffic congestion had led to an increased cost of living in the province.

“Gautengers spend an average of between 14 and 18 work days a year in traffic (2018 INRIX Global Survey),” he said.

Vermaak again pointed out that registered e-toll users paid no more than R277 per month to use the improved national roads.

He attributed the high rate of noncompliance to a backlash against the government for adding more taxes while corruption had been allowed to flourish.

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