Despite assertions to the contrary, Gauteng premier David Makhura's e-toll review panel could effect a change in direction when it comes to open road tolling in the province.
This is according to Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Moodey, and comes in the wake of an ongoing war of words between anti-toll factions and the Department of Transport (DOT), which has made it clear government is not about to renege on its decision to toll Gauteng's freeways.
Moodey says the DA has a number of proposals for Makhura to consider if he is serious about achieving an actual outcome from the e-toll review panel he instituted about three months ago.
Firstly, says Moodey, the premier could obtain a court interdict to stop the further roll out of e-tolling in the province.
"Secondly, the premier could declare an inter-governmental dispute in terms of Section 41 of the Constitution and the 2005 Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act. This is a constitutional mechanism which allows the provincial government to enter into mediation with national government over the issue of e-tolling.
"A third option would be for the premier to call a provincial referendum in accordance with Section 127 of the Constitution, giving Gauteng's residents the power to accept or reject e-tolls."
Moodey says, while the DA acknowledges the premier's efforts to take Gauteng residents' sentiments into consideration, the true test of this move will be when he has to take action after the outcome has been announced. "There can only be one outcome to this panel and that is e-tolling needs to go."
DOT spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso says the panel set up by Makhura will serve as nothing more than an assessment of the socio-economic impact e-tolling has had on the province, and was never intended to lead to any changes to the system, which has been written into law.