Premier names panel to review e-toll

A panel of 15 people will assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolls in Gauteng, premier David Makhura announced.

It is an advisory panel, composed of a diverse team of experts, which would assess the impact of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project on the economy and on Gauteng residents, Makhura said.

The establishment of the panel was an indication of how serious the provincial government was about assessing the impact of e-tolls on residents, said Makhura.

“If we were not serious we wouldn’t announce that this matter required our attention… We wouldn’t come this far,” he said.

The panel is tasked with undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the socio economic impact of e-tolling since it was implemented on 3 December 2013, and would invite proposals and submissions from Gauteng residents and stakeholders on potential solutions.

The panel is expected to submit monthly reports and a final report including its findings and recommendation must be presented to the provincial government by 30 November. The panel members are chairperson Muxe Nkondo, Patricia Hanekom, John Ngcebetsha, Vuyo Mahlathi, Luci Abrahams, Fiona Tregenna, Anna Mokgokong, John Sampson, Lauretta Teffo and Chris Malikane.

Five additional members would be announced later once final consultation with those members was concluded, Makhura said.

Makhura noted that the assessment of the impact of e-tolls is in the public interest and this will discussed when the panel meets for the first time on 17 July.

However, he refused not provide any further details on the panel’s work.

“We don’t want to pre-empt what will come out of the work of the panel, we should allow the panel to do its work… those who have different views in the province must submit their proposals… We don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the socio economic impact assessment.”

Makhura said the panel would be different from the interministerial task team that was previously set up because the panel findings would be evidence based, establishing the impacts of e-tolling since it was implemented rather than anticipating the outcomes. “We want an evidence based report, not an ideological report.”

However, Makhura continued to urge motorists to continue to pay e-tolls while the provincial government sought a lasting solution.