COMMITTEE CONCERNED ABOUT OUTA AND COSATU STATEMENTS

The Portfolio Committee on Transport is concerned about recent statements attributed to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) encouraging citizens of Gauteng not to register and pay e-tolling for highways in Gauteng.

The Committee is concerned that these two organisations are encouraging citizens not to abide by an Act of Parliament and thus defy the Constitution of the country. The recent signing of the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill to law by the President ensures that SANRAL is mandated by law to toll Gauteng roads as a way of paying back loans taken to build these roads as well as for future maintenance of road infrastructure in the province.

"South Africa is a constitutional country governed by laws as well as mechanism to voice grievances, therefore the Committee is thus greatly concerned that following an unsuccessful legal challenges to the user-pay model, these organisations are resorting to unlawful means to voice their disapproval," said Ms Ruth Bhengu, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee.

The Committee is also concerned that during the Parliamentary process that the Transport Laws and Related Matters Bill was subjected to, OUTA did not submit any objection nor make inputs to ensure that the final Bill is representative of their views. It is within this constitutionally guaranteed process that the organisation had the chance to voice their disapproval of the Bill and not to wait for its finalisation and then discourage citizens.

It is further worrying that these messages follow an extensive and unsuccessful legal process primarily initiated by OUTA. The Committee is convinced that these statements are OUTA and COSATU's way of undermining decisions made by the Judiciary and as such undermines South Africa's Constitution. The Committee calls on OUTA and COSATU to prove their respect for the law by accepting the decision made by the courts and desist from encouraging people otherwise.

The Committee maintains its view that the Gauteng Freeway Improvement project is an important part of efforts to develop an integrated transport model which is central in transforming South Africa's economy. "This model includes; Firstly upgrading the Oliver Reginald Tambo International airport; then linking a railway line to an international airport, introducing a high speed train thereby reducing time of travelling and carbon emission; upgrading of the railway infrastructure by installing a new signalling system and upgrading of train stations; building of Bus Rapid  Transit infrastructure and feeder system; acquisition of Rea Vaya Buses; refurbishment of trains and acquisition of new metro-rail trains to transport commuters; as well as the upgrading of Gauteng freeways."

"Government has invested billions in the integrated transport system in Gauteng. It is time for South Africans to assess the benefits of the integrated transport system as a whole instead of focusing on one aspect of it which is the GFIB" Ms Bhengu emphasised.

The Committee further believes that infrastructure investment, especially for transport infrastructure, is central in re-energising the South African economy. It is within this context that the two organisations must desist from encouraging citizens not to buy tags. 

The Committee urges the people of Gauteng to abide by the Constitution and respect the recently passed Transport Laws and Related Matters Bill and register for e-tolls as a way of recognising the importance of such investments in the country.      

Statement issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Ms Ruth Bhengu, October 16 2013

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