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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has now backtracked on his promise that motorists will not have to pay their e-Toll debt. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has learned that the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) still has plans to collect the e-Toll debt from motorists.

In addition, it appears that no agreement has been reached with the National Government yet to scrap e-Tolls.

Recently, Lesufi announced that the provincial government will be using a loan to pay the R12,9 billion e-Toll debt. This is worrying, as any loan that is taken attracts interest, and this will place more financial strain on our residents.

This will defeat the objective of lightening the tax burden on ordinary citizens of the province and will, in effect, bring no change to the burden citizens will have to carry.

The process of switching off the e-Toll gantries will take place on 31 March 2024. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been fighting against the e-Tolling system since its implementation, as this puts an extra financial burden on our residents.

The DA will hold Premier Panyaza Lesufi to his promise to have the e-Toll gantries switched off by the end of March. We will be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to determine which organisations have been approached for loans to pay the e-Toll debt of R12,9 billion and how this loan will be repaid.

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