MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT REJECTS CITY PRESS CLAIMS REGARDING E-TOLLING PROJECT

6 November 2011

The Ministry of Transport rejects as unfounded and untruthful claims by a report in the City Press newspaper that Minister Sibusiso Ndebele instructed the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) not to go ahead with a scheduled "soft launch" of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan Phase 1 (see report).

The report is misleading and seeks to cast doubt over a cabinet-approved process.

Cabinet has already made pronouncements on GFIP Phase 1 wherein it gave the project the green light and further approved and announced revised tariffs which included major reductions, discounts for regular users and total exemptions for public transport vehicles (buses and mini-bus taxis).

In its report, the newspaper deliberately omits our response wherein we refute the allegations as untrue.

This can only be an attempt by the newspaper to lend undue credibility to the story.

SANRAL will make all the necessary announcements with regard to GFIP Phase 1 in due course.

The Ministry is on record as saying that only future road tolling projects have been halted to allow for thorough consultation processes.

We will soon convene a Road Funding Summit where all relevant stakeholders will be given an opportunity to share their proposals with government on the best approach to future funding of road infrastructure.

Statement issued by Tiyani Rikhotso, Ministry of Transport, November 6 2011

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