DA to fund OUTA Legal fees to fight against E-Tolls
The DA is pleased to announce today that we will contribute R1 million to OUTA (Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance) to help fund their bid to fight e-tolls in court. This is in response to Outa's public call on 10 May to assist with funding their court action.
The DA is committed to fighting urban e-tolls on major commuter highways. If the government's e-toll levies go ahead at the end of this month, they will hit poor and middle income South Africans the hardest. A person earning R6000 and driving a car to and from work each day will potentially have to pay over R500 a month in toll charges, a huge portion of their income. E-tolls will also increase food prices and transport costs for other basic goods.
We have fought the E-toll Bill (formally and deceptively known as the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill) in Parliament, winning several major victories in delaying the implementation of urban e-tolls and exposing the government for its cruel disregard of poor South Africans. We have also called for a referendum on e-tolls in Gauteng, because we believe that the people should be able to say for themselves whether they want e-tolls or not.
OUTA has been engaged in a lengthy legal battle with SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency Limited) over the decision to implement e-tolling in Gauteng. OUTA has made a public call for donations to help them continue this important court battle.
The DA fully supports OUTA's efforts to stop e-tolls, and we believe they have a strong legal case. We do not believe the government, and particularly SANRAL, consulted the public adequately prior to the introduction of e-tolls, nor did they present or properly consider alternative infrastructure models which would not have had such a negative impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans, who are already struggling to make ends meet.
In Cape Town, the DA-led government won an interdict against SANRAL to achieve transparency on their e-toll plans in the province so that the people can make an informed decision. Our pledge to support OUTA's court battle today will hopefully halt urban e-tolls going ahead in Gauteng as well.
The DA will do everything it can to mobilise all South Africans, especially those in Gauteng, against this form of e-tolling.
Statement issued by Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille, June 7 2013
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