Gauteng embarks on final round of consultations on e-tolls
"We are engaging residents before government can make a final determination." - Premier Makhura.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – THE E-toll Advisory Panel established by Gauteng Premier David Makhura last year to assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolls in Gauteng has called for a review of the current e-tolling system, Sibongile Baloyi from the Gauteng government reported.
Following the public release of the panel’s report in January, the provincial government has embarked on final rounds of consultations with stakeholders to discuss the key findings and recommendations made by the panel in finding the best funding model for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.
Engaging with stakeholders in Midrand, Tshwane on Friday, Premier Makhura said the provincial government is meeting with all the stakeholders to narrow the options made by the panel to find the best funding model. “We are engaging residents before government can make a final determination. The final determination will be a collective decision by all spheres of government, but I can assure you that the current situation will not prevail after we have finished with the consultation process,” said Makhura.
Professor Muxe Nkondo, who chaired the panel, said findings have indicated that e-toll gantries perfect the apartheid spatial patterns. “The only way of solving the problems of democracy is by more democracy.”
The panel has recommended a hybrid funding model that would introduce a reliable and efficient transport system with minimal social impact and traffic demand management.
“We take seriously all the issues the panel has raised about democracy. Consultation and democracy can never be a waste of time,” added Makhura.
“We are a province with major public transport problems. Let us take this opportunity to build a more integrated, efficient transport system in the Gauteng City Region,” said Premier Makhura.
Dr Trish Hanekom of the e-toll panel said the suggestions that were made by residents during the consultation process are entirely workable. “We are proposing a mixed source of revenue streams to fund the GFIP in a way that will be more equitable to low and middle income users in a simple and efficient manner and at lower rates, ” she said.
