Ian Ollis, shadow minister of transport for the Democratic Alliance (DA), today said Ben Martins, minister of transport, is “jumping the gun” by gazetting regulations on e-tolling in Gauteng.
He reiterated the DA’s stance on a public referendum in the province, which the party believes must take place before the project is fully implemented and the enforcing of the regulations in question.
Ollis said pursuing the e-toll project in Gauteng without a proper public referendum would be ignoring “the views of the people of Gauteng, who remain outraged by this plan”.
“It is high time that both minister Martins and SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency Limited) understood that they cannot stampede over public opinion. They should stop their arrogant crusade and let the people of Gauteng decide,” said Ollis.
He said the e-tolling regulations were premature because Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa, has not yet signed the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill into law.
“This is further evidence of the continued arrogance displayed by the Department of Transport (DoT) and SANRAL on the e-tolling project in Gauteng. They are determined to rush ahead with this unpopular project before the matter has even been fully agreed to,” said Ollis
Ollis added: “This is not only an affront to the residents of Gauteng, who will be burdened by this expensive project, but it also deliberately undermines the integrity of parliament and the legislative process which has yet to be fully finalised.”
The DA plans to take the matter to Kgalema Motlanthe, leader of government business, to “urge him” to suspend all related regulations until the appropriate stage.
HumanIPO reported earlier today the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) had condemned SANRAL’s lack of public consultation over the latest Gauteng Freeway Improvements Project (GFIP) regulations.
