EFF Gauteng rejects the unjust demand for motorists to pay e-toll debt
2 October 2024
The EFF in Gauteng expresses deep concern regarding the unclear operational issues surrounding the alleged scrapping of e-tolls in the province.
On April 10, 2024, the Premier announced in a joint press conference with the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) and the national Department of Roads and Transport that e-tolls would no longer serve as a revenue source for the government, effectively abolishing the e-toll system The EFF has consistently advocated for the complete removal of the e-toll system, viewing it as a poorly conceived revenue tool implemented without sufficient public consultation, placing an unnecessary financial burden on the hundreds of thousands of motorists in Gauteng and the millions who use the province's roads.
While the EFF initially regarded the Premier's announcement as a potential electioneering gimmick ahead of the National and Provincial General Elections, we nonetheless viewed this concession as a victory resulting from public and political outcry.
However, recent developments have vindicated the initial position of the EFF with regards to the announcement of the scrapping of e-tolls. During a press briefing on September 30, 2024, MEC for Economic Development Lebogang Maile stated that users billed through the e-toll system would not be refunded and that those with outstanding e-toll payments are still legally obligated to settle those debts.
The EFF firmly believes that the R20 billion debt incurred by the Gauteng Province was never the responsibility of motorists. Several watchdogs and NGOs have questioned why the obligation to pay this debt falls only on the Gauteng Provincial Government, particularly since many of the roads in question are not provincial roads.
Additionally, the EFF has long highlighted that the introduction of e-tolls has not resulted in any noticeable improvement in road quality, which continues to deteriorate.
Furthermore, the Gauteng Provincial Government must clarify how the debt escalated to R20 billion, given that it was initially stated that Gauteng would only contribute about R12 billion to freeway improvement projects. We demand transparency on how this debt has dramatically increased.
In conclusion, the EFF deems the decision to require users to pay outstanding e-toll debts as unreasonable and unfair, especially after the province's cancellation of the e-toll System. Our position remains that users affected by this system should not be coerced into paying for a service that has been declared null and void by the MEC's own administration.
Expecting users to settle what we believe to be a non-existent debt is illogical and places an unnecessary financial burden on the people who are already paying for electricity, waster and exorbitant fuel. The EFF will raise this matter in the upcoming session of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to advocate for the relief of motorists from this unjust administrative failure.
Issued by Nkululeko Dunga, Provincial Chairperson, EFF Gauteng, 3 October 2024
