Parliament cancels debate on e-Tolls to give Mbalula more time – DA demands answers

Date: 12 May 2021

A debate on the failed e-Tolls system that was scheduled to be held in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday 13 May 2021 has been cancelled following Minister Fikile Mbablula’s feeble promise that a solution to the controversial scheme is near.

In 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa established a task team headed by Minister Mbalula to resolve the impasse reflected in the ANC at Provincial level voicing their disagreement and disapproval at the system imposed on Gauteng road users by the National Government.

Since then, three deadlines have passed without a result, or even acknowledgement. In March of this year, in spite of another looming deadline, Minister Mbalula announced increases in the tolls as if to signal their continuation.

In response to a question in the NCOP on 6 May 2021, Mbalula indicated that a decision would be forthcoming “within the next two weeks.”

Despite his dismal track-record when it comes to keeping his word or meeting deadlines, the Chairperson and Chief Whip of the NCOP have cancelled the debate based on this assurance of a sudden resolution.

The need for a debate on e-tolls transcends the issue of the continuation of this ill-advised, poorly planned, massively expensive financial disaster. Governance failures, masked by the arrogant behaviour of SANRAL, have been a hallmark of this project from its inception. The lack of public participation, the failure to interrogate alternatives or assess impact, the incredible costs of collection and maintenance of the system were all early warnings that there was another agenda being pursued.

The extension, re-extension and re-extension of contracts without due process being followed is a further red-flag that should not go without scrutiny. Doubling down in March 2021 with increased tolls and renewed threats to motorists who refuse to pay is extremely concerning, especially considering the “promised imminent solution.”

Details of the road network being used as collateral to foreign-owned entities also need to be clarified.

A thorough post-mortem of this still-born abomination is needed.

The DA demands that the debate go ahead as scheduled to ensure that full details are exposed, and lessons are learned following the massive school-fees paid for and funded by South African commuters and tax-payers.

Statement issued by Dennis Ryder MP - NCOP Member for Finance, 12 May 2021