[May 2013..Dec 2013] The Gauteng E-tolling Thread

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Wyzak said:
Not everywhere, on a lot of the roads they converted the emergency lane into an additional lane and there is no more emergency lane.
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Not any of the toll roads I have seen. On other roads yes, like the N14 but that's not a toll road (yet). Do you have an example?
 
Funding needed to continue Toll Fight

The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) needs R1.5 million to continue the fight against e-tolls in the Constitutional Court, it said on Thursday.

"Outa could take [the matter] to the Constitutional Court. It has been advised that it has solid grounds, but has a challenge of funding," Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage said at a media briefing in Johannesburg.

"We still remain R1.5m short."

Duvenage said it was now up to other organisations and parties with allies in the African National Congress to lobby for the tolling system not to be implemented.

Duvenage said Outa was not the only organisation opposed to the implementation of the system.

"Outa is not standing isolated or in the minority. [Its views] are shared by political parties, [Congress of SA Trade Unions], business forums, the ANC Youth League and faith-based organisations," Duvenage said.

On Wednesday, Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Fritz Brand refused an appeal to stop tolling on Gauteng's major highways.

Brand said the e-tolls clock could not be turned back.

"The clock cannot be turned back to when the toll roads were declared, and I think it would be contrary to the interest of justice to attempt to do so," said Brand.

The court held that despite everything that had been done and said, the reality was that the review application was brought five years after the toll roads were declared.

"In those five years, things have happened that cannot be undone," said Brand.

During his judgment he also made no order as to costs after refusing the appeal application by Outa.

However, he set aside a high court order directing Outa to pay the costs of the SA National Roads Agency Limited, the Gauteng transport MEC, and the national Treasury.

Duvenage said he was relieved the court had set aside the costs.


Source : Sapa /mr/fg/cls/jje
Date : 10 Oct 2013 11:56
 
Hmm, I'm not sure how wise this is.
The courts have shown that they will only do the Government's bidding on this tolling issue.
There is not much point in continuing this farce.
Now is simply the time to let the public do the talking.
 
supersunbird said:
Not any of the toll roads I have seen. On other roads yes, like the N14 but that's not a toll road (yet). Do you have an example?
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I don't have a specific example, it's from experience on how the roads were before the upgrade and how they are now. Also the number of times that I've seen emergency vehicles having to use normal lanes because there just isn't anywhere for them to go.

Those interested may submit written comments on the draft notice to the Director-General of the Department of Transport within the next 29 days:

Mr T.H.M Mphahlele, [email protected], 012-309-3134 (fax).

Or by post: The Department of Transport, Private Bag X193, Pretoria, 0001.
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So there we go... fox one.
 
Garyvdh said:
Hmm, I'm not sure how wise this is.
The courts have shown that they will only do the Government's bidding on this tolling issue.
There is not much point in continuing this farce.
Now is simply the time to let the public do the talking.
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I have to agree. Let the tolling start, let the public refuse to buy tags and refuse to pay, let the system break itself into pieces. Let the government finally learn a lesson about taking things too far.

Then hopefully let the public realise that they can take action against things and start to lower the threshold of the things that make them flip out like this.
 
Correspondence sent.

Dear Mr T.H.M Mphahlele,

Please find attached my public participation with regards to the
e-tolling system.

The 7 day payment period is ridiculous, all other payments work on a
30, 60 or 90 day basis.

All of the possible prices should be displayed next to each gantry. It
is criminal to only display the cheapest price when the majority of
the users will pay a price that can be as much as 500% higher.

There should be no price difference between the standard user and
e-tag user. Users who exercise their democratic right not to buy an
e-tag should not be penalized. It is also discrimination against users
from other provinces or countries who might use our roads and won't
have e-tags.

I support a ring fenced fuel-levy system. It has no operating costs,
and cannot be avoided. 44 billion rand is collected on the fuel levy
annually but only a fraction of that is spent on the roads. That is
completely unacceptable.

Gauteng contributes 40% to the national fiscus and is only asking
0.02% in return to fund the upgrade of the roads which will boost the
economy.

The e-toll will drive up price inflation and cause businesses to go
under. It will negatively affect the economy and cause stagflation in
Gauteng.

Taxis and buses are the only road users who get paid for using the
roads, they should not be exempt. If anybody should be exempt it's
those people who already pay twice for the roads, once through the
taxes on their salaries and secondly through the fuel levy and vehicle
license taxes.

I will not get tagged while R700 million flows overseas every year and
while billions are wasted on e-toll buildings, e-toll staff members,
e-toll vehicles and e-toll administration costs. I will not get tagged
while documents remain obfuscated. I will not get tagged when it is
clear that massive amounts of corruption has taken place in the
awarding of this contract. No sane person would ever have chosen this
system over the fuel levy system and it is crystal clear that the only
reason that decision was taken is so that somebody can pocket the
money.

I will vote against e-tolls in 2014.
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This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

[email protected]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<[email protected]>:
host 10.123.21.27 [10.123.21.27]: 554 5.7.1 <[email protected]>:
Recipient address rejected: Access denied
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Typical, the email address does not exist.
 
Forward it to OUTA. There is 'questionable' actions being taken to prevent public from commenting on the etoll tariffs.
 
Hmm so the email address being advertised for public participation doesn't exist?.. that would be a big issue.
 
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