Govt must abandon interdict challenge, pay back people's money and cancel tolls 

Government should abandon any legal challenge to the court interdict against the Gauteng tolls. The exorbitant e-toll collection contract must be cancelled and the money that people have spent on e-tags must be paid back without delay.

There is no sense in a long drawn-out court case that the government and SANRAL are likely to lose.

Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett, appearing for Treasury, noted correctly that an interdict could be in place for a year before the court decided on the merits of the legal case against the tolls.

The e-tolls are effectively dead and the court interdict gives government a face-saving way to cancel its contract with the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Consortium.

Damages will have to be paid in cancelling this contract, but it will still be cheaper than carrying on with a toll collection system that is as expensive as the roads that have been built.

It will assist our credit rating if government gives up the toll battle and moves swiftly to find alternative funding, most likely from the fuel levy or general taxation.

In the meantime, the government must refund people what they have already paid for e-tags. They might not get an apology for the inconvenience caused, but they can at least get a swift refund.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, April 29 2012

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