DA steps up its fight against e-tolls

The DA has unveiled its latest billboards in opposition to e-tolling, which is due to start on Gauteng’s highways on December 3.

The first billboard was unveiled on the N3 highway, in Gosforth Park, on Thursday morning.

“Today I launched new billboards in Gauteng with the message: ‘A vote for the DA is a vote against e-tolls,'” said Mmusi Maimane, DA premier candidate for Gauteng.

“These billboards along highways mark the start of an intensive campaign to mobilise Gauteng voters against the government that brought us e-tolls.

“I will takeinformation on the costs of travelling all major routes in Gauteng directly to the people, as part of a mass mobilisation campaign against e-tolls.

“The fact remains: people can’t afford e-tolls, no matter how much Sanral says they can.”

Maimane added that many people are refusing to buy e-tags and that this is their prerogative and their right.

“It is important to send out a strong message to the ANC that people don’t want e-tolls,” he said.

“But, ultimately, the strongest message we can send out is at the ballot box.

“If people don’t want e-tolls, they must vote out the party that has unjustly forced this system on us.

“We can fight the further roll-out of e-tolls if we are elected to government.

“And, make no mistake, the ANC has plans to roll out even more e-toll gantries on our highways.”

Maimane said he has announced plans to fight e-tolling as premier, including a provincial referendum, so that people can make their voices heard against the system.

“As premier, I am prepared to interdict the next phase of e-tolls, that will see gantries go up on a further 300km of roads, including major routes like the Ben Schoeman highway,” he added.

“We have also gone to court to have the e-tolling bill sent back to parliament, on the basis that it was unconstitutionally passed.

“E-tolling will kill jobs in Gauteng and put an extra financial burden on people at a time when they can least afford it.

“Our message to the people is clear — we will put everything into the fight against this unjust and unaffordable system, but we need your vote to do it.”

Meanwhile, Outa (The Opposition for Urban Tolling Alliance) has expressed its profound disappointment at the government’s decision to implement e-tolling in Gauteng.

“We are concerned that the executive arm of government has failed to take society into its confidence and, in the process, has sown the seeds of what we fear will go down in history as a very costly failure of something that could have been avoided,” said Wayne Duvenage, chairman of Outa.

“There has been massive rejection from across the board – labour, business, the churches and civil society at large – yet the authorities simply continue to ignore this issue.

“Outa will shortly convey new initiatives to empower society with civil courage to stand fast and reject this ill-conceived policy.

“In the meantime, we point out that it is not a legal requirement to get etags and people must do what they believe is right to resist this farce, which is clearly not in the best interests of the people of South Africa.”