A series of controversial billboards have upset the ANC.
The DA has admitted to be behind the now infamous billboards along the major highways of Gauteng that bears the slogan “E-tolls. Proudly brought to you by the ANC”.
The ANC allegedly is not happy about the DA’s maverick campaign and has referred the matter to the Advertising Standards Authority (Asa) and the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC), but the DA refuses to budge.
DA national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane has posed the question whether the ANC is ashamed of e-tolls.
“E-tolls were conceived under the watch of an ANC minister, supported by an ANC executive in Gauteng, passed into law by an ANC majority parliament, and signed, sealed and delivered by an ANC president.
“So what’s the ANC’s problem with the billboard? Is the ANC ashamed of E-tolls all of a sudden?” Maimane wanted to know.
“We say bring it on. We will defend our right to erect these billboards in any form the ANC chooses. The ANC is panicking now because it knows that the public don’t want e-tolls, and with good reason – e-tolls will make people poorer and cost jobs.
“The DA stands on the side of immense public opposition to e-tolls,” Maimane said defiantly.
Meanwhile DA Gauteng spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Neil Campbell also has joined the fray.
“Sanral’s e-toll billing blunder shows yet again that the system is unworkable and that the agency is hell-bent on shoving e-tolls onto Gauteng commuters, despite widespread resistance and rejection. Sanral claims it is not charging users, but its billing system is sending out statements showing that registered prepaid users have outstanding amounts on their accounts,” said Campbell.
“Sanral further confirms that there is a known error on the pre-paid account notifications that do not display the credit amounts ‘properly’.”
This clearly shows that e-tolls are not ready to roll out as consistently claimed by the Transport Minister and Sanral itself. The costly advertising campaign launched by Sanral, which eventually will be paid for by the public, provides further evidence that they are extremely concerned about public rejection of their ‘baby’,” Campbell concluded.
To add further insult to injury it has been reported on national television on the morning of 7 October that traffic on the Bakwena highway north of Pretoria were congested seriously during peak-hour morning traffic due to the e-toll lane not operating.
