Gauteng residents continue to bear the burden of unwanted e-Tolls for the foreseeable future
11 December 2023
The e-Toll gantries will not be switched off at the end of the year, as promised by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi earlier this year. This means that Gauteng residents will continue to be burdened by this unwanted system while battling to make ends meet due to the high cost of living.
The MEC for Finance, Jacob Mamabolo, announced during his Adjustment Budget speech that the proposal for Gauteng to pay its portion of the e-Toll debt, which now stands at R12,9 billion, will only be handed over to the national government on 15 December.
This is worrying, as the e-Toll debt will not remain at R12,9 billion. By the time a solution or proposal is accepted on how Gauteng will pay its portion of the e-Toll, the amount to be repaid will have increased.
It is unacceptable that Premier Lesufi is using e-Tolls to gain votes for his failing government ahead of next year’s election with empty promises.