E-toll ideas trying to be half pregnant - Outa

Johannesburg - The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) and the many critis of the e-toll system feel vindicated by the comments made by Gauteng premier David Makhura wherein he states that "in its current form, the e-toll system is unaffordable and inequitable and places a disproportionate burden on low and middle income households. It is also administratively too cumbersome".

Makhura made comments at a presentation on the recommendations provided by the e-toll advisory panel.

READ: E-tolls place burden on the poor - Makhura

"At the outset, we must commend the panel for the extent taken to receive substantive input from all sectors of society and for compiling a comprehensive report that appears to cover a vast quantity of information," said Outa.

"In this regard, we raise our concerns and disappointment that the e-toll system has not been rejected in its entirety by the panel. Instead, we sense there is a view to try and keep the irrational and inefficient system in place, even if partially so, to fund the bonds of the freeway upgrade."

The proposal of a reduced or partial funding of the debt through the use of e-tolls merely exacerbates the problem in Outa's view, by pushing up the collection costs as a percentage of the revenue generated, "making the plan more irrational".

READ: Gauteng e-tolls must be reviewed - Makhura

"It also appears that the most efficient system available to them, that of the national fuel levy and which is currently part of government policy, appears to have been downplayed or overlooked as a meaningful part of the solution," said Outa.

The organisation rather proposes that the recent big reductions in the fuel price have provided government with an ideal opportunity to hold back ten cents per liter as part of the fuel levy, which would raise the necessary R2.2bn per annum to service the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) bonds.

"Society is fully aware they must ultimately pay for the freeway upgrades, however, to propose other costly and more complicated options in the presence of a simple efficient and highly effective alternative, makes no sense," Outa said.

"The Gauteng premier's panel report and recommendations appear to be finding it difficult to legitimately reconcile the substantive rejection feedback provided to them, with the will of strong political forces at play. This, in turn, may challenge the integrity of the e-toll panel process."

Outa believes there is no real chance of changing the public's perception and acceptance of e-tolling as proposed in these recommendations and for this reason, it suggests that trying to be "half pregnant" on the issue will not work.

"We are certainly aware that these recommendations and the future plan to engage with stakeholders in February, prior to a final report and recommendations being submitted to national government, could be a case of 'testing the waters' by the premier and possibly even national government. What the authorities need to do is ask whether they believe the report's recommendations are recognising the will of the people," cautioned Outa.

"Outa has consistently said the Gauteng road users will determine e-tolls' future, not politicians, nor regrettably big business. In this regard, we suggest the public continue to exercise the high levels of moral courage displayed on this issue to date."

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