The Gauteng Provincial Government has not budgeted at all for the highway toll fees expected later this year.

Nor has any arrangement been made to fit its 6000 government vehicles with the e-toll tags that would make them compliant with the toll fee system and qualify for discounts.

This is disclosed by Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

This is a pathetic lack of planning by the provincial government.

The Finance Department has not even conducted a study on the expected impact of the toll fees on economic growth and job creation in Gauteng.

According to Nkomfe "We have not undertaken this exercise as we still await the final fee rate. Thereafter, we will investigate the rate thereof."

It is astounding that no study has been done by the provincial government on something that is likely to push up the cost of living and hinder the creation of jobs.

The whole thing is a fiasco.

There should surely have been proper planning and a budget for government vehicles to pay the expected tolls.

Voters have the opportunity to show their dissatisfaction by voting for the Democratic Alliance in the local government elections.

Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Caucus Leader, Gauteng Legislature, April 24 2011

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