The Democratic Alliance (DA) will today file an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to obtain a copy of the report on the socio-economic impact of e-tolls on the people of Gauteng.
According to the opposition, its move was prompted by Gauteng premier David Makhura submitting to pressure from ANC headquarters, and choosing not to table the report for public perusal and comment in the Gauteng Legislature last week.
Makhura established the 15-member e-toll advisory panel in July to access the socio-economic impact of e-tolling. Following weeks of presentations by civic and business groups, national government and the South African National Roads Agency, the panel wrapped up its work and handed its final report to Makhura on 30 November.
Along with the report, Makhura also received all the submission made during the hearings from panel chairperson professor Muxe Nkondo, but refused to discuss the report's contents. Instead, Makhura asked the media to allow the provincial government to study it first. He added the document would be released to the public in January.
However, the DA is now moving to get its hands on the report, after it was not tabled last week. "What premier Makhura and Luthuli House conveniently forget is that the review panel conducted its hearings at the expense of public funds, and the public have the right of access to a report that directly affects their lives," says the opposition.
"By failing to make the report public, premier Makhura chose to side with his political masters, despite his 30 September promise of 'If needs be, I am prepared to stick with the people of Gauteng'."
The party says it will "not abandon the people of Gauteng", and that it will continue to fight until e-tolls are scrapped.
Since its handover, e-toll opponents have been divided as to whether the report should have been released to the public immediately, or whether Makhura was right to hold back while provincial government studies the document.
Justice Project SA chairperson Howard Dembovsky is highly critical of those trying to pre-empt the report's public release, or any decision that will eventually be taken around e-tolling by government, saying those who are pushing for its release are jumping the gun.
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