Maimane launches E-tolls Programme of Action

Note to editors: These remarks were delivered by Mmusi Maimane at a rally at the Orange Farm taxi rank to mark the start of a province-wide programme of action against e-tolling.

Today we are gathered here in the community of Orange Farm to send a clear message to government: we can't afford e-tolls!

Today the collective taxi owners of the Orange Farm Taxi Association have signed up membership with the DA. They have joined our fight not just against e-tolls, but for a clean government that puts job creation and delivery at the centre of change.

This is the start of a programme of action to mobilize communities across Gauteng to vote out the party that brought us e-tolls.

That's why we have billboards lining the highways saying: "A vote for the DA is a vote against e-tolls".

The fact is that e-tolling will create a knock-on effect which will increase the cost of food and other living expenses for every resident of Gauteng. This is on top of unfair additional travelling expenses for using the highway.

That is why we are in court to get the E-tolling Act sent back to Parliament because it was unconstitutionally passed.

That is why we will call a provincial referendum when we govern to give the people a voice, and a vote, against e-tolls.

With this programme of action we will take the true cost of e-tolling directly to the people in each region of Gauteng.

The trucks which bring food and clothing and other necessities to Orange Farm will face increased traveling costs which will be reflected in increased prices for these goods. 

Taxi drivers told me today that even though they are exempt from the system, they are still concerned that e-tolling will affect their business.

Tolling will kill jobs, and if people don't have jobs they will not need to make use of taxi's to travel.

Small business owners in Orange Farm who travel to Johannesburg to collect supplies will pass through at least two gantries in addition to other tolls on a return trip at an approximate cost of R5, 45 per day, R 27,25 per week, R109 per month. If they travel further a-field to Midrand for example they could pay up to R80 a day and R1000 a month.

Sanral continues to tell us that e-tolling will only impact a small portion of road-users but they have failed to talk about the true cost of e-tolling.

Orange Farm and its people can't afford e-tolling and this just one community of many in Gauteng who will be similarly affected.

For other major routes in the South of Gauteng, the costs of e-tolling will be -

From Daveyton to Johannesburg: The user will pass through at least five gantries on a return trip at an approximate cost of R13, 92 a day. This equates to R69, 60 a week and R278, 40 a month.

From Alexander to Centurion: The user would pass through at least six gantries at an approximate cost of R17, 31 a day. This equates to R86, 55 a week and R346, 20 a month.

From Soweto to Midrand: The user will pass through at least 11 gantries on a return trip at an approximate cost of R29, 64 a day, R148,20 a week and R592,80 a month. 

Tembisa to Germiston: The user will pass through at least four gantries on a return trip at an approximate cost of R14, 40 per day. This equates to R72 per week and R288 per month.

Pretoria/Shoshanguve/ Mamelodi to Johannesburg: The user will past through at least 14 gantries on a return trip at an approximate cost of R37, 92 per day, R189,60 a month and  R758,40 a month.

Tsakane - Kempton: The user will pass through at least 6 gantries on a return trip at an approximate cost of 13, 34 per day, 66, 70 per week, R266, 80 a month

Everyone must take a stand against this injustice that has been forced on us and not buy an e-tag; it is not illegal to do so.

As the DA's Gauteng Premier Candidate, I will continue to do everything in my power to fight e-tolling. This includes a legal bid to reclassify the legislation governing e-tolling as well as plans to fight the system should I be elected as Premier in 2014.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, November 26 2013

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