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E-tolls could cost ANC in elections

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance has condemned Sanral's announcement that the implementation of e-tolls on Gauteng highways is imminent.

"The implementation of the e-toll system is well on its way," SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) head Nazir Alli said  on Sunday in a statement issued with the transport department.

"We are starting to implement the final steps before e-tolling begins," Alli said.

Only two more legal steps had to be completed: the 30 days the public had to comment on the draft documents gazetted, and the signing of the amendment bill into law by President Jacob Zuma.

"Sanral's announcement... shows arrogance of the highest order," said DA Gauteng caucus head Jack Bloom.

He said the e-toll issue would affect the ANC in the 2014 general elections.

"The e-tolls will be a fiercely-contested election issue that will cost the ANC badly."

The e-toll project has been heavily criticised by a number of organisations, including Cosatu.

It had intended staging a protest on Friday, but was blocked from doing so by a court.

In December, the N3 highway was briefly closed when protesting motorists parked their cars and danced during a drive-slow motorcade.

This week, a number of religious groups raised concerns about the costs of the tolls.

Dutch Reformed Church general synod chairperson Nelus Niemandt said e-tolling poses a "moral, ethical dilemma".

Civil society group Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) has fought a lengthy court battle to try to prevent the implementation of e-tolling.

The High Court in Pretoria granted Outa leave to appeal its dismissal of the civil group's application to have e-tolling scrapped, and this will be heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in September.

Most of the criticism against e-tolling has been based on how it will affect ordinary South Africans, who will suffer the cost of using roads necessary to get to their jobs. It has also been claimed that there was a lack of consultation about the process.

Sanral said on Sunday it believes e-tolling is a "sustainable" way of funding the upgrading of Gauteng's freeway system.

Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage has suggested that the government could use other means of paying for road improvements.

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