Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele's halting of work on all toll roads is not enough, and must include the Gauteng e-toll process, say several parties.
Ndebele on Sunday instructed SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) to stop work on all toll roads until further consultations are undertaken. However, this does not include the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan (GFIP), for which e-tolling is being established.
The system is set to go live in February, despite strong opposition from labour, political parties and citizens.
Step forward
Business Unity SA (Busa), among others, has welcomed Ndebele's decision to halt work on toll roads.
“Busa agrees with the minister that, in light of the significant cost implications for the general populace and business in particular, the need to proceed with the projects supported by the general buy-in of affected parties will be key to their success.”
However, it also adds that the viability of instituting e-tolling systems in urban areas needs to come up for scrutiny, “as the concentrated nature of our economy means that this will result in certain downstream cost multiplication, which will both affect the cost competitiveness of our economy and impact poor consumers”.
Geographic discrimination
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) says it is outraged that the halt does not include the contentious Gauteng e-tolling system.
It adds that Ndebele has accepted the basic arguments that those opposed have been making, when he says that, while the country requires good road infrastructure to meet its economic growth targets, this shouldn't put a huge financial burden on the shoulders of consumers.
“If that argument applies to the rest of SA, as it should, then why are the people of Gauteng to be forced to become 'even poorer' through paying the tolls regardless of their views?”
The federation has repeatedly said it would plan demonstrations, pickets and stay-aways, should the e-toll system not be scrapped completely.
It now adds that it will consider court action if people are discriminated against on the basis of geography.
Price of failure
Democratic Alliance (DA) transport shadow minister Stuart Farrow says it's time for the transport department to take a fresh look at the toll road funding model, and find ways to cut the proposed R35 million cost.
It must also broaden the toll road consultation process to ensure that the voices of all concerned parties are heard, undertake a study of the impact of toll road projects on local economies, and consider how it will manage associated problems affecting road users, such as the lack of alternative transport routes and the poor availability of public transport.
The ministerial task team appointed to look into toll roads should consider all proposals put forward by stakeholders at the initial investigation into the GFIP, says Farrow.
“The proposed toll road system means that the South African people will have to pay the price for the department's failure to effectively manage its finances and properly maintain our roads. This is a cost that most South Africans, many of whom already contribute to road maintenance through taxes, cannot afford. The toll road model acts as a regressive tax, and places a disproportionate burden on the poor.”
Catastrophic disregard
DA Gauteng provincial leader Janet Semple says the official opposition party will also continue to pressure the Department of Transport to scrap the proposed toll system, since it has said the Gauteng project will continue unabated.
The public should not register for the tolling system e-tags until several issues are resolved, she adds.
These include clear measures being in place to ensure bank details are secure and not open to fraud; recourse for motorists if they are charged incorrectly and amounts are withdrawn from bank accounts; and dealing with fraudulent use of a motorist's licence plates, considering that 10%-20% are illegal.
The South African Municipal Workers Union says the toll road saga and how it was handled is an example of what a government in any normal democracy should never do.
“Apart from just halting the toll road projects, government must investigate as to who was responsible for steam-rolling these projects past all the relevant processes. This for us is highly suspicious, given the amounts of money involved in the various toll road projects.
“Ignoring the interests of the working class can be catastrophic.”
Share
