Application to stop e-tolls denied
JOBURG- An urgent application by the Freedom Front Plus to stop e-tolling was struck off the roll at the High Court in Pretoria - only hours before the user pay system is scheduled to commence.
The party’s last-ditch attempt to halt e-tolling was struck off the roll due to a lack of urgency.
According to the party’s spokesperson Anton Alberts, Judge Maria Jansen said in her ruling that there was no damage that cannot be fixed at a later date.
He added that Jansen did not make a decision on the unconstitutionality of the application, which formed the basis of the application.
However, according to media reports Jansen said that the applicant sought wide-reaching relief, and failed to make a proper case.
Alberts said, “We have argued that the Act itself and its implementation is unconstitutional. Billions are involved and the impact on road users and the region’s economy will be enormous.”
Since President Jacob Zuma signed the bill into law in September, e-tolling has been fought in the High Court, the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Constitutional Court, where the user pay system was ruled legal.
Despite furious public opposition, in November Transport Minister Dipuo Peters gave the South African National Roads Agency the go-ahead to begin collecting e-tolls when she announced that the system would commence on 3 December.
At midnight the gantries will be activated and motorists travelling on Gauteng freeways will be tolled.
