Disabled people protest against e-tolls - report

[rpm]

Disabled people protest against e-tolls

About a dozen wheelchair-bound Gauteng residents gathered at the Rivonia e-toll customer service centre to protest against the lack of an exemption for disabled people from e-tolls, The Star reported on Wednesday.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Any specific reason why should they be exempt?

 

[Enzo Matrix]

Any specific reason why should they be exempt?

Yes because they have a much harder time if they have to use things like gautrain etc

 

[Jola]

Yes because they have a much harder time if they have to use things like gautrain etc

And also because their income earning potential is usually limited.

 

[Drunkard #1]

65.9% of this country's population is mentally disabled (according to the 2009 election results). They should all demand exemption.

 

[nand]

And also because their income earning potential is usually limited.

I call bull****. They don't fall under AA/BEE like the Caucasians, so they actually have higher potential opportunities.

 

[ebendl]

Why must we always burn things?

 

[nand]

Why must we always burn things?

Because this is the South African jungle. WE ARE TARZAN monkeys.

 

[ebendl]

I call bull****. They don't fall under AA/BEE like the Caucasians, so they actually have higher potential opportunities.

How many disabled people do you know?

 

[SauRoNZA]

I call bull****. They don't fall under AA/BEE like the Caucasians, so they actually have higher potential opportunities.

Uhm....most can't work AT ALL.

 

[Enzo Matrix]

I call bull****. They don't fall under AA/BEE like the Caucasians, so they actually have higher potential opportunities.

Oh boy you are piece of work. Tell that to my disabled wife

 

[Enzo Matrix]

.

 

[ISP cash cow]

Any specific reason why should they be exempt?

Qasa chief executive Ari Seirlis said government and the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) had promised the disabled an exemption, but never implemented this promise as legislation.

I think it had more to do with promises that were made and never implemented.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I think it had more to do with promises that were made and never implemented.

Lovely to make promises but never implement them...

 

[nand]

How many disabled people do you know?

Quite a few, one sitting next to be at work.

 

[nand]

Uhm....most can't work AT ALL.

Then why do they need exemption? The burden will lay on people who use the highways on a daily basis to commute between work.

 

[maeztro]

Not aiming at disabled specifically, but the more exemptions there are, the smaller the effective tax base and bigger the associated burden becomes.

 

[ebendl]

Not aiming at disabled specifically, but the more exemptions there are, the smaller the effective tax base and bigger the associated burden becomes.

I think there's little enough disabled people that it won't affect the base much.

 

[maeztro]

I think there's little enough disabled people that it won't affect the base much.

I understand and agree with that. But there are many other groups also clamoring for exceptions. This article makes a good summary of the salient issues:
http://ewn.co.za/2013/12/02/OPINION-E-tolls-The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-Ugly

And there are already a whole bunch of exceptions, even if not clearly evident. Businesses will just pass the cost down to consumers. Government vehicles are fitted with e-tags, but that gets paid from taxes which is paid by consumers. Taxis are exempt, and we all know why that is.

Won't tag, won't pay.
It is also against the law to steal, but I have to lock myself behind walls, an electric fence, alarm system and armed response. And then my el cheapo plastic braai chairs still disappear because the neigbour is not behind similar systems.

 

[Zewp]

I call bull****. They don't fall under AA/BEE like the Caucasians, so they actually have higher potential opportunities.

Yes, because they can do all the kinds of work non-disabled employees can and are not in any way limited in the type of job opportunities they have available.