Disregard for human rights erodes Sanral’s legitimacy

Since the implementation of e-tolls, we’ve all gotten used to Beyers Naude Drive being clogged with more traffic.

How ironic then, that Beyers Naude, the man, fought for human rights, and now, the road named in his honour is being used by motorists going to lengths to avoid Sanral’s alleged breach of human rights.

Following two months of so-called “teething problems”, Sanral again stands accused of dishonesty, lack of responsiveness, and failing to be open with users of Gauteng’s e-tolled ‘pay-ways’.

In a comprehensive 10,000 word complaint lodged with the Office of the Public Protector on behalf of citizens, Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) consultant and spokesperson John Clarke accuses Sanral of breaching seven entrenched human rights contained in Chapter Two of the Human Rights Constitution.

“Childish security mistakes, denialism and responses that fall far short of industry best practice only serve to undermine Sanral’s legitimacy. Unless there is a radical turnaround this albatross will never fly,” said Clarke.

“Perhaps the most worrying aspect concerns the allegations of violations of the right to privacy on the one hand, and the failure of Sanral and its agents to respect the constitutional right of access to truthful information on the other. That’s completely the wrong way around in the relationship that should prevail between citizens and the State.”

On 12 December 2013, OUTA found that only 15 percent of users of e-tolled roads had e-tags fitted and OUTA’s recent snap counts at various intersections reveal that the number has barely doubled to 30 percent after eight weeks, which is very low and falls far short of the required levels of success at 80 percent.

“After Sanral’s threats and intimidating messaging we warned that Sanral’s ‘spook’ tactics would backfire and now they will have to answer to the Public Protector for failing to show commitment to our human rights. We are not talking about narrow legal definitions of ‘compliance’. For a highly interlaced complex system such as this, the system has to serve people, not the other way around,” ended Clarke.

OUTA will place the submission to the Public Protector on its web site

Details: www.outa.co.za