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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.

This is not the first time that Premier Lesufi has promised that e-Tolls will be a thing of the past.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will continue to push for the gantries to be used as a tool to enforce speed and improve the flow of traffic on our roads.

The DA believes that trucks should only be on the roads during certain times, and the e-Toll infrastructure can help implement this.

The DA will continue to fight against any system that will put more strain on their pockets.

Issued by Fred Nel MPL - DA Gauteng MEC for Roads and Logistics