E-tolls were approached incorrectly – Makhura
JOBURG – Gauteng Premier laments the process followed when introducing e-tolls in his province.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has criticised the way in which e-tolls were rolled out.
“We can’t build roads and only later inform citizens that they must pay.” Makhura made this statement while delivering his State of the Province Address (Sopa) on 20 February. The premier also committed to the residents of Gauteng that there will be no e-tolls on new roads being constructed in the province.
He also mentioned that all efforts that provincial government made through the Advisory Panel have not led to a resolution to the concerns of Gauteng motorists regarding affordability. The Advisory Panel was established by Makhura in July 2014 to conduct a comprehensive socio-economic impact assessment of e-tolls. The establishment of this panel was a direct response to the public outcry, launched officially in December 2013.
Among other things, the panel recommended that the main elements of the current e-toll system be reviewed to address questions of affordability, equity, fairness, administrative simplicity and sustainability.
Makhura has now, in turn, thrown the ball to national government saying, “We have tried our best. The ultimate solution can only come from national level. We will continue to engage in order to represent the interests of our residents.”
The premier highlighted that provincial government is mobilising resources for public transport infrastructure in ways that will ensure that they don’t commit the same mistakes as with e-tolls.
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