Politicians are increasingly using the thorny subject of e-tolls to gain political points as local government elections draw closer.
Gauteng MEC David Makhura has provided assorted parties with a soap box from which to put forward their positons, as a panel is this week hearing arguments from political parties as to whether the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) should remain in place.
E-tolling is under review by a panel appointed by Makhura, with the view of determining the socio-economic impact of the system on the province and its citizens.
The electronic system has been beset with problems since its launch last December, including so-called hacking attempts on its site, and many complaints of incorrect bills.
So far, three parties have come out firmly against the electronic highways, with the African National Congress in Gauteng surprisingly joining long-time fighters the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Saying no
Yesterday, the EFF reportedly called for the controversial system to be scrapped, arguing upgrades should be paid for through the elimination of government corruption instead. The DA - which has always vigorously campaigned against e-tolling - yesterday called on the panel to scrap e-tolling after making its submission.
Shadow MEC for roads and transport in the province, Neil Campbell, says its submission argues "the shroud of secrecy surrounding the procurement, construction and operator costs of the GFIP, e-tolling and the substantial percentages of revenue leaving the country needs to be lifted, and all aspects of the above be made public".
The DA wants e-tolling to be paid out of the fuel levy, and adds it will "continue in our fight for a toll-free Gauteng, and use every avenue at our disposal". The Gauteng ANC would also rather have a fuel levy than the burdensome system, secretary Hope Papo has said.
Political football
Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) chairman Wayne Duvenage says, with local elections coming up in 2016, e-tolling is increasingly a political issue, and the ANC in Gauteng added its voice to that of the DA and EFF - which have been against the system for three years - because of the effect it had on the last general elections.
Duvenage says the Gauteng ANC's stance has pitted it squarely against the national leadership. He notes the situation is "without a doubt heating up" as this was the first time some of the ANC came out against e-tolling, which now has no supporters apart from national ANC members, the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) and the Department of Transport. "There is no one for it anymore."
While political parties are milking the outrage at the system to their own ends, the matter is now out of the hands of politicians and in the hands of the public, says Duvenage. He says the system is not working, and payment compliance dropped from around 40% to under 30% after the panel was convened. "Outa's work is done, as far as I'm concerned. There's nothing more to do, the system is dying, it's just on life support."
Justice Project SA chairperson Howard Dembovsky concurs politicians are increasingly jumping on the bandwagon before the elections, despite the fact that e-tolling has failed to win the buy-in of the public. "It has failed monumentally on its backside; it's effectively brain dead."
However, Dembovsky cautions the system will not be scrapped tomorrow, but rather its cancellation will be used as a trump card, so government can be seen to be bailing people out. Before then, he notes, Sanral is likely to pull a stunt like implementing prosecutions on unpaid bills.
Defensible
While Sanral did not respond to a request for comment, the agency previously argued South Africans should respect the court's decision to allow e-tolling, adding it has seen "recurrent and unfounded attacks" on the project. The department's spokesman, Tiyani Rikhotso, was not available this morning.
The agency has also stated it could not present before the panel, as its board is guided by the Sanral and National Roads Acts, and is ultimately accountable and responsible to the minister of transport for the affairs of the agency.
In addition, Sanral defended the current user-pays principle, saying it is a fair system and describing the argument that the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project should be funded through a fuel levy as "misdirected".
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