Makhura's E-tolls Review Panel is a publicity stunt

Gauteng Premier David Makhura's announcement of the Gauteng Provincial Government review of the E-tolls system is nothing more than a public relations stunt.

The E-tolls system is governed by national legislation, therefore the only body that is empowered to legitimately review the system and make pronouncements on its future, is Parliament, through the Portfolio Committee on Transport.

For this reason, on Monday of this week, the DA Shadow Minister of Transport Manny de Freitas MP and I stated that the review panel must be a Parliamentary Committee.

It is unclear why Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has remained silent on this matter, while Premier Makhura continues with this charade.

The DA now calls for the Minister to show leadership, and support the need for the review of E-tolls to take place in Parliament.

The terms of reference for the Gauteng E-tolls Review Panel announced by Premier Makhura today clearly indicate that the panel is not empowered to take any actions against E-tolls.

The people of South Africa need to see action on E-tolls, not a "talk-shop" in Gauteng that has no legal powers. The cost of this Review Panel will take public funds away from other critical needs, yet it can make no meaningful changes to the E-tolls scheme.

The DA will continue this fight against E-tolls, which are an economic burden and were imposed upon South Africans without any meaningful consultation.

With the DA Shadow Minister of Transport, I am in the process of drafting a Private Members Bill that will ensure that South Africa's roads infrastructure is better funded and E-tolls are stopped in their expensive tracks.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA Parliamentary Leader, July 10 2014

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