The Democratic Alliance (DA) has tabled a motion to debate the Gauteng e-toll tariffs that were accepted by Cabinet last week.
The official opposition party yesterday tabled the motion for the debate to take place in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
“The motion notes the protests by a range of organisations, including alliance partners of the ANC, like Cosatu [Congress of SA Trade Unions] and the Young Communist League. It also notes the possibility of civil disobedience against the implementation of the toll fees,” says DA spokesperson for transport in Gauteng, Neil Campbell.
Protests and concerns were also raised by the Automobile Association, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, Afriforum, Business Unity SA, SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the South African Vehicle Renting and Leasing Association, and the Road Freight Association, according to the DA.
Campbell adds that the revised toll fees are still too high, will negatively impact on job creation in the province, will raise the cost of goods - which will hit the poor particularly hard, and will push up maintenance costs on other roads that motorists will use instead.
“Ordinary motorists are used as a 'cash cow' to fund these highways, despite paying all manner of other taxes. Motorists should also not be whacked with value-added tax added to toll fees.”
Campbell says public sentiment is overwhelmingly against the toll fees, which must be reconsidered in the interests of a growing province that needs to create as many jobs as possible.
Hotly debated
Meanwhile, the ANC commended Cabinet for endorsing the revised e-toll tariffs and said acceptance of the fees was a “bold and progressive” move.
However, the acceptance of the tariffs has been slammed by industry players, political parties and labour. There have been several mentions of strikes, protests and civil disobedience.
National chairperson of Justice Project SA, Howard Dembovsky, says: “I think that as much as Sanral [South African National Roads Agency] and the DOT [Department of Transport] may wish that they have appeased and mitigated the risk of taxi drivers rioting, this thing is far from over and I would not be in the least bit surprised if ordinary motorists and transport operators embark on mass action, the likes of which can only be compared to what went down in Egypt.
“Many have warned about civic disobedience. I am warning that we can expect vandalism and maybe even riots.”
Cabinet on Wednesday approved tariffs for e-tolling in Gauteng, which dictates that motorcycles (Class A1) with e-tags will pay 24c/km; light vehicles (Class A2) will pay 40c/km; medium vehicles (Class B) 100c/km; and “longer” vehicles (Class C) 200c/km.
Qualifying commuter taxis (Class A2) and commuter buses (Class B) are completely exempt from the e-toll system.
The reduction for light vehicles without e-tags saw a drop from the initially gazetted fee of 66c/km, to 58c/km; and from R3.95 for heavy vehicles without e-tags to R2.95.
The e-tolling project is an open road, multilane toll infrastructure that allows tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.
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