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Call to contest e-tolls

Bonnie Tubbs
By Bonnie Tubbs, ITWeb telecoms editor.
Johannesburg, 30 Oct 2012
The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance says the public should air their opposition to the imminent tolling of Gauteng's roads.
The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance says the public should air their opposition to the imminent tolling of Gauteng's roads.

The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) has urged the public to take the government up on its call for feedback on the draft notices of e-toll tariffs released last week.

Friday's announcement by the Department of Transport (DOT) and the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral), that Gauteng is likely to see e-tolls being implemented before year-end - after public input on the latest tariffs - drew widespread criticism.

Outa says the inter-ministerial committee (IMC), which took the decision for Sanral to proceed with e-toll implementation, closed its eyes to the public's outcry. It asserts the government is hoodwinking the community with its claim that the latest tariffs are lower than those proposed - and subsequently withdrawn - last year.

"Outa is disappointed by the approach of both the IMC and government to disregard the strong opposition to e-tolling. The pro e-toll arguments remain weak and the benefits claimed have been discredited."

The alliance says the public must make use of the opportunity to comment on proposed toll tariffs (Gazette 35756) and toll exemptions (Gazette 35755). "A clear message of e-toll rejection should be e-mailed to mphahlet@dot.gov.za."

The IMC's decision comes a month before a challenge to the concept of e-tolling is heard in the High Court following a legal case instituted by Outa.

Outa says the judicial review - set to be held on 26 November - will "again highlight the complete inadequacy of government's e-toll motivation".

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