E-Tolls: With Prosecutions Looming, Where Is Premier Makhura?

Premier Makhura’s Electioneering Gimmick

With the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) now threatening to prosecute thousands of Gauteng motorists, it has never been a more important time for Premier David Makhura to act on his word, to be the champion of the people and stand up to his political masters in Luthuli House.

In his State of the Province Address, the Premier rightly acknowledged that the cost of e-tolls were too high and that this is why people were not paying them.

He was backed by Gauteng ANC Provincial Chairman, Paul Mashatile, who reiterated that something needed to be done to alleviate the heavy burden of e-tolls.

But now, with residents being threatened with legal action – because they simply refuse to be subjected to an unjust and unaffordable burden, where is Premier Makhura?

Did Makhura really listen to the people’s cries? Or was this a simple and hollow electioneering gimmick – because he knew his hands were already tied?

OUTA

It is too late to talk of a “new” strategy on e-Tolls when Luthuli House has already decided its plan of action.

While the DA will continue to fight against e-tolls we strongly urge all residents of Gauteng to join forces with the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).

We believe that OUTA have made a tremendous contribution to the civic discourse on e-tolls, and we offer them our support whenever they need it.

The pertinent question remains however, in this hour of need, where is Premier Makhura?

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

[Image source]

e-Tolls: Gauteng ANC Cannot Undo Its Masters Bidding

National Transport Department

Gauteng ANC chairperson, Paul Mashatile’s comments that the National Transport Department must not force the e-Toll system down people’s throats rings as a hollow election slogan, because if the ANC was really against the system, it would have turned the gantries off years ago.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s backtracking on the matter speaks volumes to the complete disregard the ANC has for the financial damage e-Tolls metes out on the citizens of Gauteng.

When promising to address the issue in 2014, Makhura appeared to have had citizen’s interests at heart. However, after a costly review panel, a slightly altered – but ultimately the same e-Toll package was handed back to Gauteng residents under the guise of a “new dispensation”.

Makhura, Mashatile and the Zuma Administration

In his State of the Province Address this year, Makhura made mention of the fact that the system of e-tolling is not being adhered to because of the financial implications – the heart of why the DA has never supported this unjust system.

Makhura has gone on record as stating that this issue will be reviewed. He has reviewed it once, what different outcome will there be this time?

Paul Mashatile throwing his weight behind Makhura will have no impact. Shunned by the current Zuma administration, Mashatile is in no position to pull strings at a national level. Makhura has not spoken to President Zuma since assuming office in 2014 and is not favoured because he is seen as a man of action – something many of his ANC colleagues are not.

Upcoming Municipal Elections

It is safe to say that under this ANC led government, with its two centres of power, e-Tolls are here to stay. The thousands of Gauteng’s residents who make use these taxed roads will continue to suffer.

The DA winning the cities of Johannesburg and Tshwane in the upcoming municipal elections is the first step to undoing this unjust taxation of Gauteng’s roads.

The first thing a DA administration as the government in Gauteng will do is turn off the e-toll gantries.

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

E-tolls Increase Inflicts More Pain On The People

E-tolls Increase

SANRAL’s decision to increase e-tolls at the end of February will be the last straw to break consumers’ backs if government does not take immediate action to prevent it.

Predictions for the South African economy in 2016 are dire and people are going to be faced with food and fuel increases as a result of the recent drought and weak Rand.

Increases in e-tolls, whether in line with inflation or not, will have a severe knock on effect, further driving up costs.

Shackles of E-tolls

Gauteng is the engine room of South Africa’s economy, and government must free it from the shackles of e-tolls and give life back to people who are slowly being suffocated.

A ring-fenced fuel levy would spare Gauteng’s people the burden of e-tolls and would by now have settled the costs of the freeway improvement project had government implemented such a measure in 2008.

During his State of the Nation Address last week President Jacob Zuma announced that government would introduce austerity measures.

Just by reducing his bloated cabinet and severely cutting down on corruption and government waste would inject R30 billion into the economy every year – instead our country is facing a recession.

Removing the Burden of E-tolls

E-tolls are unjust, unfair and a massive burden on Gauteng’s people, and President Zuma and the ANC must bring pressure to bear on SANRAL and stop the increase from going ahead.

The DA has declared e-tolls an enemy of the people, and we will use every method to our disposal to remove the burden of e-tolls when we take over the cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg later this year.

The people will punish the ANC for not listening to their cries.

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

[Image source]

E-tolls: Gauteng ANC Must March with the People

ANC Must March on SANRAL

Following the Gauteng ANC’s march to Eskom on load-shedding last week, the DA calls on Chairperson Paul Mashatile to announce whether they will now march on SANRAL after yesterday’s e-tolls announcement.

The Gauteng ANC rejected e-tolls with much fanfare last October at their provincial congress.

They have since betrayed the people of Gauteng with a brand new enforcement strategy to ensure people across Gauteng pay e-tolls or face severe punishment.

Will the ANC again march against themselves for a problem they have created?

Cost-effective Alternative to E-tolls

The truth is there is a simple, cost-effective alternative to e-tolls. The only thing needed is political will for government to ring-fence a small portion of the fuel levy to pay for the freeway upgrades.

In 2013, Sanral’s Vusi Mona said that 17% of all tolls would go toward collection fees.

At a cap of R450 per vehicle per month, that would have translated into R76-50 per vehicle per month.

However, with the cap reduced to R225 per month, the R76-50 still needs to be collected, driving up the percentage collection rate up to 34% per vehicle per month.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Claims

If this ANC government is indeed a responsive and attentive government as Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa claims, it would long ago have realised that there is no need to resort to threats when cheaper and less complex methods of funding are available.

E-tolls are killing jobs and slowly strangling Gauteng’s economy, and ultimately, the rest of South Africa will pay the price.

People are opposed to e-tolls, and by resorting to jackboot tactics, the ANC government will only alienate them further.

The DA reiterates our call for a provincial referendum on e-tolls, asking the question: Do you want a small increase in fuel levies, free from expensive collection fees and government threats, or not?

Given the severe betrayal of the people by the Gauteng ANC, we believe allowing people to vote on e-tolls is the most effective way for fairness and justice to prevail.

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

[Image source]

Scrap E-tolls: The Only ‘Dispensation’ That Works

Unfair and Unjust SystemJohn Moodey DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

Today Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce more ways to pay for e-tolls, instead of scrapping them altogether – despite the fact that less and less road users are willing to pay for this unfair and unjust system.

According to the National Department of Transport, since January there has been a dramatic drop in the number of people registering for e-tolls, as well as a steady decline in revenue collected.

This disproves the assertion by Premier Makhura and the e-toll review panel that people are not fundamentally opposed to paying tolls on Gauteng’s highways.

People are feeling the financial crunch of increases in municipal rates, electricity, petrol and income tax, and are simply not willing or able to pay e-tolls.

Stealth Methods to Pay for E-Tolls

Instead of scrapping e-tolls altogether, the ANC’s response is to introduce stealth methods hidden in licensing and other fees to force people to pay.

The fact is that the e-tolls system does not have the ability to cope and deal with debt collection, and the introduction of the hybrid model will further complicate an unsustainable system.

So while the economies of Gauteng and the country are reeling from the effects, and unemployment spirals out of control, Deputy President Ramaphosa and Premier Makhura are standing at a crossroad today.

They could act in the interests of the poor and working class by scrapping e-tolls altogether, or open a Pandora’s Box of civil disobedience and non-compliance on a scale never seen before.

The choice is theirs, and the consequences will be felt at the polls in 2016.

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

[Image source]

Transport Minister Deals Gauteng Economy a Double Blow

National Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters, is setting the stage to deliver Gauteng’s economy another blow by recommending time limits on the hours which heavy duty vehicles may be allowed to operate on the province’s roads.DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport Neil Campbell

Gauteng’s economy is already bleeding due to the ministers continued insistence to implement a so-called “hybrid” tolling system on motorists – which, according to Gauteng Premier, David Makhura’s e-toll review panel finding that e-tolls in some form or another – places the poor in an untenable situation.

Reducing Road Fatalities

Now, the Minister’s latest proposal will prevent trucks weighing over 9000kg from operating on the province’s highways from 06h00 to 09h00, and 17h00 to 20h00 – in a misguided attempt to “reduce road fatalities”.

Road safety is a critical concern in Gauteng and the rest of South Africa, but it will only be improved with strict and proactive traffic law enforcement. Banning goods vehicles from the province’s roads is treating a symptom, not the cause.

Knock-on Effects of Recommended Time Limits

The knock-on effects will not only harm economic growth and job creation, but also have a severe effect on the poor.

Time limits on operating hours will force logistics companies to pay drivers overtime, driving up costs while slowing down the supply of goods such as fuel, perishable foods, and components that support the manufacturing sector.

The fact is that road fatalities will only be reduced through strict traffic law enforcement at all hours of the day and week, addressing driver behaviour and by stamping out corruption.

Once again, the logic that brought us the e-toll system intends to force another unjust and unfair system that will impair the quality of life for business and citizens alike.

The DA will keep a close eye on and attend all public stakeholder engagements in Gauteng so as to ensure that government is reminded of the damage its ill-thought through policies would cause to an already fragile economy.

 

Media enquiries:

Dr Neil Campbell MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport

082 387 2540

[Image source]