The e-Toll contract has been renewed until the middle of June. There is a possibility that this contract will be extended once again, even though Premier Panyaza Lesufi has assured residents that e-Tolls are a thing of the past.

The extension of this contract means that the current debt owed for the e-Toll gantries will increase and residents will continue to be billed for this unwanted system.

It is worrying that there has been no further communication regarding the Gauteng Provincial Government’s (GPG) portion of the debt that needs to be paid.

GPG has not yet finalised the financial model for the replacement of e-Tolls. This means that the province has committed to debt for which it has no idea how to service.

Inevitably funds will be taken away from other departments and service delivery in the province will continue to suffer.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be tabling questions to the MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale, to determine what plans have been put in place since the announcement that e-Tolls have been scrapped.

The DA will continue to fight any proposal for an additional tax on our residents.

 

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