Gauteng provincial government reiterates stance of e-toll scrapping

The Gauteng government has reiterated that it was looking forward to an “imminent” announcement over the future of e-tolls in the province.

This according to provincial roads and transport department spokesperson Theo Nkonki.’

Nkonki’s comments came after transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo was heard announcing the controversial tolling system, in the province would be scrapped during a radio interview on Thursday morning.

“The e-tolls are a thing of the past and we are just waiting for that to be formalised and confirmed,” he was heard saying in the interview.

Mamabolo said that while an announcement over the future of e-tolls should already have been made, they were awaiting imminent good news relating to them from national government.

However, Nkonki said the department wished to reiterate that they wanted the system scrapped while they were anticipating the announcement from national government.

“The Gauteng department of roads and transport has reiterated its position and emphasised the importance of promptly resolving the issue of the e-tolling system in the province,” he said.

Nkonki said the MEC was on record saying the province was seized with the matter due to its view to oppose the implementation in the province.

“MEC Jacob Mamabolo indicated that the provincial government is eagerly awaiting the announcement by national government on the future of e-tolls,” he said.

During his radio interview, Mamabolo further said: “As we look forward to the announcement by national government, we reaffirm our view that e-tolling system in its current form burdens Gauteng residents on a matter that involves the national economy and the economies of neighbouring states.

“As we anxiously wait for the decision, the provincial government believes that it has put forward a compelling argument for the scrapping of e-tolls.”

Shortly after the interview, national transport department spokesperson Ayanda Allie-Paine reiterated that no decision had been made regarding the future of the controversial road tolling system.

“It is important to note that currently no decision has been made regarding the future of e-tolls,” she said.

“At the moment, the ministry of transport is seized with the responsibility of ensuring that beyond a determination of whether the e-tolls are scrapped or not, proper decisions are made with regard to how road infrastrtucture roll-out and maintenance in this country will be financed.”

Allie-Paine further Mamabolo had made it clear his utterances were a provincial view.