Premier announces “end of etolls”, Outa remains sceptical
Despite the Gauteng Premier saying the etolls system had been "formally turned off", Outa has noted that "nothing has changed".
The joy of the announcement made by Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi on the e-toll system being permanently scrapped during his State of the Province Address has been short-lived.
This as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) noted that nothing had changed and motorists will continue to be billed daily.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage responded to statements made during Lesufi’s SOPA address on Monday, saying they had noted the premier’s comments around the tolling system.
“We have heard these comments that the decision has been made and the e-toll scheme is ‘on the verge of being scrapped’ many times over the past few years, and yet nothing has formally changed.
“The situation remains exactly as it has been since the finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his October Medium Term Budget Policy statement.
“Until the e-toll system is formally turned off, everything that Lesufi and others have stated on this issue remains just words.”
Duvenage highlighted that there are still businesses and individuals who continue to pay their e-toll bills because they continue to receive invoices.
“Some businesses have continued to pay until a final decision to turn off the scheme’s billing system has been announced.
“Until that happens, these businesses remain uncompetitive and subjected to unnecessary expenses.”
He called on the National Treasury, the minister of transport, Sanral, and the Gauteng provincial government, who are all party to the imminent decision to bring the system to a close.
“For finality to be achieved, Sanral must publish a gazette to amend the initial declarations of the Gauteng freeway network as tolled roads.
“This shouldn’t take longer than a few days.
“Outa hopes that the minister of finance will announce the final closure dates in his budget this week so that motorists can put this saga behind them once and for all.”
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