The state propaganda machine proudly announced  this week that religious leaders under the banners of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the National Interfaith Council of SA and the National Religious Association for Social Development released a joint statement with government, expressing agreement on the e-toll issue.

“Government and the religious leaders agree on the user-pay principle for the development of road infrastructure.

They further agree that the e-toll system should be part of a mix of mechanisms to address the problem of congestion on the GFIP (Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project) road network,” says the statement.

“They are also of the same view that the system should be used to finance the construction of roads.”

Pardon? Pray, who in heaven’s name gave these people a mandate to speak on behalf of their followers on the matter of e-tolls?

The system is widely despised for a number of good reasons. High among these is the lack of genuine consultation, which still applies.

Then there’s the view that South Africans, among the highest taxed in the world, have already paid and continue to pay, through various levies, more than enough to fund such road improvements. Instead of that money being used for roads, it’s diverted to the general fiscus.

From there it is plundered.

No expense is spared on “Zumaville”, presidential jets, unprofitable airlines, a bloated cabinet and general corruption. And now you want us to pay extra for roads, thereby crippling South Africa’s economic heartland.
Go to hell.