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

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Garyvdh said:
Government's plan to slash official perks is welcome, but more needs to be done to ensure tax money stays in the country, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said on Friday.

"Astounding to Outa is the fact that e-tolls will enrich a foreign company with more than R13 billion over the next 20 years, paid for by local motorists," chairman Wayne Duvenage said in a statement.

"[The National] Treasury should be doing all they can to prevent South African taxpayers' money -- for use of social infrastructure -- from leaving the country, let alone enriching any private company, foreign or local."

In his medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that government planned to slash perks for all officials, from ministers to mayors, hoping to save more than R2bn annually from December 1.

The steps included setting a standardised cost limit for official cars, revoking all official credit cards immediately, shrinking the size of delegations travelling abroad, and putting up ministers waiting for official homes in rented apartments instead of hotels.

On Friday, Duvenage said Gordhan's acknowledgement that the reduced spending would result in a cost saving of R2bn a year was "astounding".

"Yet, one must ask why do we have to wait for difficult times before we get harsh on savings of this nature?

"This country requires strong corrective action and accountability throughout the civil service to address the multi-billions of rands squandered each year through maladministration, poor procurement practices and corruption, as detected by the Auditor General."

It was shocking that ministers and civil servants were allowed to remain in government employ after squandering state revenue.

This was a "shocking disgrace and certainly does not display a serious approach towards accountable leadership", Duvenage said.

Outa trusted government would reconsider scrapping e-tolls and putting some of the savings to good use by paying for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, he said.

The Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed Outa's appeal against the implementation of e-tolls by the SA National Roads Agency Limited on October 9.

On October 18, Outa announced it would not continue its appeal against the ruling because of a lack of money.


Source : Sapa /dm/fg/jk/th
Date : 25 Oct 2013 10:45
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Wonder how many kickbacks/bribes etc went down in that transaction (or coming from them years to come)
 
So, the ASA has reopened my complaint about the SANRAL ads stating that businesses will increase their profits 20% because of eTolls. They have now asked SANRAL to substantiate their claims.

Should be interesting, in that the only way they can substantiate it is to admit on the record that people will be forced off the tollroads because they can't afford them...
 
Sinbad said:
So, the ASA has reopened my complaint about the SANRAL ads stating that businesses will increase their profits 20% because of eTolls. They have now asked SANRAL to substantiate their claims.

Should be interesting, in that the only way they can substantiate it is to admit on the record that people will be forced off the tollroads because they can't afford them...
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LOL, yeah that should be interesting.

Edit: Although, all what will happen is that they'll say that they won't use the advertisement again in that exact format and they'll get off scot-free like everybody else. The ASA fails epically in it's duty in that regard.
 
Sinbad said:
So, the ASA has reopened my complaint about the SANRAL ads stating that businesses will increase their profits 20% because of eTolls. They have now asked SANRAL to substantiate their claims.

Should be interesting, in that the only way they can substantiate it is to admit on the record that people will be forced off the tollroads because they can't afford them...
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post their reply if you get it please
 
Wyzak said:
LOL, yeah that should be interesting.

Edit: Although, all what will happen is that they'll say that they won't use the advertisement again in that exact format and they'll get off scot-free like everybody else. The ASA fails epically in it's duty in that regard.
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It's all about the publicity. Look what happened with the last ASA ruling I won ;)
 
Sinbad said:
So, the ASA has reopened my complaint about the SANRAL ads stating that businesses will increase their profits 20% because of eTolls. They have now asked SANRAL to substantiate their claims.

Should be interesting, in that the only way they can substantiate it is to admit on the record that people will be forced off the tollroads because they can't afford them...
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Good luck with that - the numbskulls don't know how many tags they've sold, you think that them trying to do a sum with a percentage in it is going to be any more successful.
 
Another ASA complaint that needs to be submitted is their claim that "83% of the road users are going to pay less than R100 per month"

This was cleverly worded PR bull, as the are clearly referring to the national road user network, and not the Gauteng road users. They have dismissed the argument that the roads are of national benefit, so trying to compare using the national road user numbers is a flat-out disingenuous piece of marketing. If one isolates it to JHB, it is evident that road users will be paying far more per month. http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/564833-What-s-e-tolling-going-to-cost-you

In addition, their own numbers show a flatlined uptake of e-tags by consumers, therefore to use a 100% adoption rate of e-tag compliance is also disingenuous marketing drivel.

Their marketing with the public has been incredibly disingenuous from the outset and it appears that they have no intention of engaging maturely with us. On this basis, they need to be taken to task further than just their lies about businesses increasing profits by 20%...
 
DJ... said:
Another ASA complaint that needs to be submitted is their claim that "83% of the road users are going to pay less than R100 per month"

This was cleverly worded PR bull, as the are clearly referring to the national road user network, and not the Gauteng road users. They have dismissed the argument that the roads are of national benefit, so trying to compare using the national road user numbers is a flat-out disingenuous piece of marketing. If one isolates it to JHB, it is evident that road users will be paying far more per month. http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/564833-What-s-e-tolling-going-to-cost-you

In addition, their own numbers show a flatlined uptake of e-tags by consumers, therefore to use a 100% adoption rate of e-tag compliance is also disingenuous marketing drivel.

Their marketing with the public has been incredibly disingenuous from the outset and it appears that they have no intention of engaging maturely with us. On this basis, they need to be taken to task further than just their lies about businesses increasing profits by 20%...
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dooo eeet!
 
Sinbad said:
dooo eeet!
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Problem is they weren't technically adverts. They were media responses to what they claimed were "incorrect figures". While it is PR, it doesn't necessarily constitute and advertisement, so one would actually have to take it up with the press ombudsman, I think...
 
Yacoubi leaves e-tolls collection firm

http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/yacoubi-leaves-e-tolls-collection-firm-1.1600533

Johannesburg - The CEO of the company tasked with collecting e-tolls in Gauteng has resigned, Fin24 reported on its website on Thursday evening.

Electronic Tolling Collection (ETC) Pty Ltd CEO Salahdin Yacoubi resigned with immediate effect on Thursday.

The South African National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) confirmed the resignation.

“Sanral has a contract with ETC and the resignation of its CEO has no impact on that contract. The work ETC is doing for Sanral will continue,” spokesman Vusi Mona told Fin24.

It was not clear why Yacoubi resigned.

- Sapa
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It was not clear why Yacoubi resigned.
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Want to take a bet? It was because he was just informed that the launch of e-tolling will be delayed again until next year.
Watch this space....
 
Garyvdh said:
Want to take a bet? It was because he was just informed that the launch of e-tolling will be delayed again until next year.
Watch this space....
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Someone is going to receive a hospital pass.. :)
 
Garyvdh said:
Want to take a bet? It was because he was just informed that the launch of e-tolling will be delayed again until next year.
Watch this space....
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More likely that he has seen the writing on the wall with regards to mass non-compliance and has decided to jump ship before it sinks.
 
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