People should not deliberately create confusion, or behave as though there is uncertainty around e-tolls in Gauteng, the Portfolio Committee on Transport said on Tuesday.
The Chairperson of the Committee Ms Dikeledi Magadzi said the Committee was concerned by the confusion and its potential effect on those motorists currently paying for the e-tolls. “The position of the Committee, and Parliament, is that e-tolling is a legislated programme, meant to generate funding, not only for the loan SANRAL is servicing, but also maintain of roads in Gauteng,” said Ms Magadzi .
She added: “South Africans should continue to pay while hiccups were being ironed out, and while initiatives aimed at encouraging payment are being pursued.” She said the pronouncement on e-tolls by the Gauteng Premier last month should not be used by opportunists wanting to sabotage government programmes.
“The pronouncement of a review task team, during the opening of the Gauteng Legislature, was never intended to discourage people from paying, and certainly never suggested that e-tolling has failed. The review task team is a matter of government, and would definitely look at alternative funding model for the project. E-tolls are about improvement and maintenance of roads, and are definitely not a burden on the poor.”
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