Following the release of a report by the e-toll assessment panel, DA Gauteng Provincial leader, John Moodey and DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport Dr Neil Campbell voiced out about e-toll findings at a briefing in Johannesburg on 20 January.
“Gauteng Premier David Makhura has betrayed the people of the province by refusing to call for the scrapping of e-tolls, despite the overwhelming public opposition to this unfair and unjust system.” said the unimpressed Moodey.
He stated that the premier unnecessarily dumped the people of Gauteng into further drawn-out review processes.
On 15 January, Premier Makhura released a report by the e-toll assessment panel, which had 50 recommendations.
However, the DA said the recommendations have not eased public frustration with the toll system and demands that the premier places the decision on e-tolling in the hands of the people.
The DA has further challenged the premier to conduct a provincial referendum to ask members of the public if they are for, or against e-tolls.
“A referendum is the most direct and effective way to tell government that e-tolls must go,” said Moodey.
Makhura’s panel has recommended that e-tolling remains when the vast majority of us oppose it, he said.
“The review panel process offered the people of Gauteng no relief whatsoever, and they will be forced to pay – despite the premier promising otherwise.”
The party is now taking things a notch up, by calling for the implementation of a national fuel levy to cover what is says is the huge burden of e-toll fees.
