TOLL DEBATE CANCELLED - IS ANC RUNNING SCARED?

The Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature Ms Lindiwe Maseko has cancelled the sitting on Tuesday 11 October that was scheduled to debate the DA's motion opposing the tolls on Gauteng highways. Maseko did not consult with opposition parties regarding this mysterious cancellation, nor did she give any reasons.

It is highly unusual for a sitting to be cancelled in this way, especially a Tuesday sitting when there are questions for oral reply as well. I strongly suspect that the sitting was canned because there are major divisions in the ANC on the tolls issue.

The ANC Youth League in Gauteng has opposed the tolls, as has alliance partners including the SA Communist Party, COSATU and the Young Communist League. In March this year ANC Gauteng provincial secretary David Makhura said "In the absence of an affordable, reliable and efficient public transport system, the proposed tolling system will have disastrous consequences for the people of Gauteng".

Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has said the tolls will go ahead, so the debate would have exposed cracks in the ANC. But they can't run away from the tolls issue. The debate will have to be rescheduled and there will be public hearings shortly by the Petitions Committee on anti-toll petitions submitted by the DA and COSATU.

Public pressure will increase with the successful launch last week of the multi-party TollfreeGP campaign. Thousands of people have visited the www.tollfreegp.co.za website and facebook page and indicated their support.

Opposition will increase with this latest apparent attempt to avoid a debate where they will have to account for the tolls blunder.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, October 9 2011

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