The inter-ministerial committee (IMC) on e-tolling met Cabinet on Wednesday, government spokesman Thabo Masebe said.<\/p>\n
“I can confirm that the IMC did report to Cabinet on the consultations and made recommendations,” he said.<\/p>\n
“However, I can’t tell you more about the recommendations, but Cabinet would make an announcement at the post-Cabinet briefing. I don’t speak for Cabinet, so I can’t say what would be announced.”<\/p>\n
The government’s plans to introduce e-tolling in Gauteng have provoked stiff opposition from motorists and residents of South Africa’s economic heartland.<\/p>\n
The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa<\/a>) said it would not be surprised if the IMC had indicated that e-tolling would be pursued.<\/p>\n “We have clearly read between the lines with all our interactions with them, and all the signs point to e-tolls being implemented,” Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage<\/a> said.<\/p>\n “They are more likely to recommend to reduce the fees and get funding from increasing the fuel levy and other measures. But the consultation process happened too late.”<\/p>\n Duvenage said Outa had done research on other countries, including Britain and America, where e-tolls were implemented and collapsed.<\/p>\n “We are not saying don’t pay for the roads, it’s just the mechanism being used to pay… It’s government’s role to implement mechanisms that have the least negative effect on society.”<\/p>\n Last month, the Constitutional Court overturned an interim order which had put a hold to the Gauteng e-tolling project.<\/p>\n On April 28 the High Court in Pretoria granted Outa the interdict, ruling that a full review needed to be carried out before electronic tolling could be put into effect.<\/p>\n The interdict prevented Sanral<\/a> from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of the review.<\/p>\n Sanral and National Treasury appealed against the order, and said the delays prevented recouping the payment incurred in building the freeways and gantries.<\/p>\n The review was expected take place in the High Court in Pretoria on November 26.<\/p>\n E-toll advertising battle<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sanral toll boards misleading public says DA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Shocking new e-toll rate: OUTA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nRelated articles<\/h3>\n