The South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) confronted the South African National Road Agency (Sanral) over the threat, published on its website and reported in the media, that motor vehicle licences might not be issued in the event of outstanding e-toll payments.
IRR has noted that Sanral said the threat was outdated and therefore did not represent its present position and also acknowledged that it did not have the power to block vehicle licence renewals.
“Sanral has therefore taken the position that licence suspensions cannot occur and that it is not presently pressing for such suspensions,” read the statement released by IRR.
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IRR further said this was a great victory for motorists and an example of how, standing together, citizens do have the power to #StopCitizenAbuse.
“The IRR will remain vigilant on this issue and intervene again if the position of Sanral or the government changes. Because of citizen opposition to e-tolls, ANC Gauteng Premier David Makhura has emphatically and publicly opposed e-tolls,” added the IRR.
Sanral informed IRR that it was currently awaiting decisions on the future of e-tolls from the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula and they would keep a watching brief to ensure that the minister did not push for licences to be suspended.
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