Minister Peters confirms that the ANC is the party of job-killing E-tolls

25 July 2016

Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters, has come out in defence of E-tolls, following the DA’s expressed commitment to fight E-tolls in Johannesburg, Ekhurhuleni and Tshwane when we are given the opportunity to govern after the August 3Local Government Elections. 

This is clear confirmation that the ANC is firmly in support of E-tolls, and does not care about the job-killing impact of E-tolls in Gauteng. 

The DA will remain steadfast in exploring all legal remedies to ensure that that the tolling of our roads is done in a consultative manner and one that does not steal from Gauteng residents even further. 

This comes after Minister Peters lashed out, arrogantly asserting that nothing can be done to remove E-tolls. However, the Minister must be reminded that where the DA governs in the Western Cape, we have successfully fought against E-tolls and we have won. We intend to do the same for the residents of Gauteng.  

This project is likely to cost the tax-payer billions of rands  that could have been used to actually maintain roads and create jobs, but has made it more expensive for the poor to travel to work, has hurt small businesses, driven up food prices, and undermined job creation. It has been an opportunity-killing move by an uncaring government.

The ANC government, under President Zuma’s leadership, has introduced countless projects that have cost billions of rands, but have lacked the political will and commitment to effect real change for the benefit of all South Africans. 

Like many of the ANC’s “well-intentioned and ill-implemented” projects, E-tolling was rammed through without due public consultation by the ANC government. 

It was an uncaring ANC government that ignored, with contempt, the opposition to it by people across the province and it is a responsive DA that has heeded those calls. 

As such the DA has pledged to the people of Gauteng that when we govern after3 August 2016, we will ramp-up the fight against E-tolls by: 

- Blocking any further attempts by SANRAL to introduce new toll roads; 

- Immediately explore legal options available to us, to declare an intergovernmental dispute, to stop this continued theft from our residents;

- Standing up to harassment of residents – under a DA government, Metro Police will not be allowed to harass motorists regarding E-toll payments; and

- Fighting for residents during consultation on existing tolling tariffs, to prevent increases that will kill opportunities in Gauteng.

- In the first quarter of 2016, the Metros of Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni saw a collective 216, 000 join the ranks of the unemployed. In this job crisis, government should be ensuring that it not only creates jobs, but also ensure that it does not hinder job creation and place burdens on the poor and most vulnerable.  

E-tolls were proudly brought to Gauteng by the ANC. Now voters can start the fight against E-tolls by removing the ANC on 3 August 2016.

We urge Gauteng the residents to vote against e-tolls and vote DA for CHANGE that will create jobs and move the province, and the country forward again. 

Issued by John Moodey, DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, 25 July 2016