The Democratic Alliance (DA) will launch a major campaign against the controversial e-tolling system in Gauteng tomorrow.
The official opposition says the campaign will involve public mobilisation through social media and various protest actions.
“Innovative tactics will be used to effectively channel public opposition so that these tolls are stopped,” says DA Gauteng caucus leader Jack Bloom. The launch will take place at the Gauteng Legislature.
Combined petition
The Gauteng Legislature last month said it received several petitions expressing dissatisfaction with the e-tolling system. It says these petitions have been tabled before the standing committee on petitions at the Legislature.
“Various organisations representing millions of workers, communities and a political party have submitted similar petitions with regards to the toll gates around Gauteng.”
The petitions were submitted by Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), SA National Civic Organisation and the DA.
The committee has now decided to handle the petitions as one petition and will subject it to the petitions process of the Gauteng Legislature from now on.
The committee says it will, within a space of 30 days from 22 September, convene hearings in a quest to resolve the impasse on the toll system. “Within that period, responses will be sought from the provincial government's transport development department.”
The DA handed in a petition containing more than 11 000 signatures of people who are against the tolls, and this figure continues to grow.
The concern, as stated on the Web site www.stophighwayrobbery.co.za, is: “We, the undersigned, demand that the Gauteng highway toll system be halted. The principle of tolling existing urban roads is wrong. The costs of these tolls are too high, too complicated and unaffordable.”
Xhead = Not accepted
Fees initially gazetted for the e-toll system in February were suspended due to public pressure.
Cabinet in August approved reduced tariffs for e-tolling in Gauteng, which dictate 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 busses (Class B) are completely exempt from the e-toll system.
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.
The system is expected to be implemented over the next four months. However, Cosatu says the concept of e-tolling has not been accepted.
Cosatu has said it will march and plan demonstrations, pickets and stay-aways, if the tolls are not scrapped. “We are confident that thousands of other Gauteng residents will be joining in these protests as well.”
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