Gauteng residents continue to wait for e-Tolls solution
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has tabled questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature about the ongoing process to scrap e-Tolls.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says Gauteng residents continue to wait with bated breath for a proper solution to e-Tolls.
This is despite many residents struggling to afford basic food items, exacerbated by the ongoing load-shedding and now the outbreak of bird flu across the country.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE E-TOLLS DECISION?
Nearly a year ago, Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that e-Tolls were a thing of the past and had been scrapped. However, when the Democratic Alliance (DA) tabled questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) not too long ago, it emerged that only a steering committee has been established and that there is no financial model in place for Gauteng to pay its portion of the debt.
“Although we note the MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale’s utterances that conversations about ending e-Tolls are progressing, she is still unable to provide a timeline for the conclusion of these discussions, and this is not creating much confidence that real progress has been made, said Fred Nel MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport.
ALSO READ: DA: “No end in sight for e-Tolls in Gauteng”
UNSUCCESSFUL QUERIES ABOUT THE SCRAPPING PROCEDURE
Furthermore, Nel says she is not open and transparent about the sticking points preventing the gantries from being switched off and how Gauteng plans to repay the debts generated by the e-Tolls to which it committed.
“This is worrying as the gantries have not been switched off yet, and every day they are still on the e-Toll debt is increasing. The Gauteng Provincial Government is unable to indicate how much needs to be repaid for the e-Toll gantries to be switched off,” Nel queried.
DA TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR GAUTENG RESIDENTS
He further said their residents never agreed to the e-Toll system, and the DA will continue to fight against any system that will negatively impact the residents of this province.
Furthermore, they will also keep an eye on the adjustment budget to ensure that the much-needed money for service delivery is not used to settle the unknown e-Toll debt amount.
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