Government's implementation of the electronic billing system on Gauteng's highways has hit another road block, after it announced yesterday that the discussions on Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill have been postponed.
Last week, Democratic Alliance (DA) member Herman Groenewald sent a letter to the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee on Public Services, Mninwa Mahlangu, expressing his concerns about procedures followed during the deliberation on the Bill in the Select Committee on Public Service.
In a statement, the DA says members of the NCOP received notification yesterday afternoon via SMS and e-mail informing them of the postponement of the debate and vote until "further notice". No reason was provided.
Groenewald had earlier requested that the Bill be referred back to the committee for further deliberations and to allow for extensive public submissions.
The DA has previously claimed the Bill was being rushed through the legislative process and that the correct procedures were not being followed.
Chairman of the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa), Wayne Duvenage, says another delay is just making matters worse and is reaffirming its view that e-tolling is wrong for society. "Outa would like to remind the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) that it is an entity of the state and it shouldn't continue to talk as if it is trying to sell products."
Duvenage says the fact that Sanral has been trying to launch e-tolling for two years and has not succeeded gives a clear indication of the complexities and near unworkability of e-tolling.
"We believe it's an opportunity for government to stop and rethink e-tolling and make a decision with the input of the public."
Street fight
Meanwhile, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) Gauteng provincial secretary, Dumisani Dakile, says the postponement does not in any way affect its plans to protest against e-tolling.
Cosatu announced yesterday that it will take its ongoing fight against e-tolling to the highways of Gauteng yet again when it leads two mass motorcades in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
Cosatu provincial chairperson Phutas Tseki says this month's protest action will be much the same as its previous undertakings. "We close the roads, drive slowly and make noise on the roads."
He adds that they expect around 100 cars to participate in the mass motorcades. "It could turn out to be 300 cars. But not all workers in Gauteng can go out onto the roads. It's usually shop stewards and the like that end up participating."
The first march will be held in Johannesburg on 24 May and would affect the M1, N1, N12, and M2. The second would be in Ekurhuleni on 31 May and follow a route along the N3, N12, and R21.
Tseki says further details would be announced at a press briefing on 22 May.
Tseki says this is not the only action Cosatu has planned against e-tolling. "We will draw on labour for a strike, as well as various night vigils at different departments, including Sanral."
Power of the masses
Duvenage says Cosatu's protests have a huge impact and make government think twice. "It makes the authorities at all levels at Sanral really question whether what they are doing is right, and go back to the drawing board and maybe find another solution which is in the best interest of everybody."
He says while Outa has a legal case to stop this, win or lose in court, the tolling systems will only work if they have the buy-in, acceptance and participation of society.
"Cosatu's action showcases a societal backlash against a very irresponsible and very unjust law or regulation around privatising and tolling existing routes which are critical for all people to move on, not just those who can afford it."
Duvenage adds that he is personally in favour of Cosatu's protest action. "I always advocate that if permission has been granted and all is done above board and legal, then everybody is entitled to join them."
After Outa's High Court application to scrap e-tolling was dismissed in December, the alliance applied for leave to appeal the judgment that deemed e-tolls legal. Leave to appeal was granted in January.
Outa's appeal will be taken to the Supreme Court of Appeal, in Bloemfontein. "We expect the matter to be heard in the third quarter of the year," says Duvenage.
The Department of Transport could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.
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