Fight etolls, vote DA

Note to editors: The following remarks were delivered by DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, Mmusi Maimane, at the launch of the DA's anti-etolls sky banner at Rand Airport today.

Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) launched an anti-etolls sky banner from Rand Airport. The banner, which will circle over the Gauteng traffic by plane, reads: "Fight etolls. Vote DA".

The banner will be flown over all e-tolling routes in Gauteng in the coming days, including the N3, N1, N12 and M1, during peak morning, midday and afternoon traffic.

While SANRAL and government pushed the start button on tolling today, I want to tell Gauteng and the rest of South Africa that the best way to fight etolls is to vote against the party that introduced it. You cannot be against etolls today and vote ANC tomorrow.

The only party that has a chance of stopping etolls in government is the DA. And it is a fight we will take up if we are elected to govern Gauteng next year. 

I have announced plans to call a referendum in Gauteng so that the people can have a voice against the further rollout of etolling. I am also prepared to interdict the next phase of etolls and fight national government through an inter-governmental dispute.

In the interim, the DA's case against the unconstitutional passing of the E-Tolling Act continues, which could see the law establishing e-tolls being sent back to Parliament to deliberate on for a second time.

This is a fight for every single person in this province; a fight which you can take to the ballot box and vote out the party that brought us this injustice today.

Do not underestimate the power of the will of the people; there is no stronger statement you can make against this system than at the ballot box next year.

I will not be buying an e-tag; it is not illegal to do so. The time has come for South Africans to make a stand.

I am with you; together we can fight this system and bring the change that Gauteng deserves.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, December 3 2013

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