Johannesburg - Government needs to cancel the toll collection
contract with the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Consortium, the
Democratic Alliance said on Friday.
"This is the only way to escape the exorbitant and
unworkable e-toll system that has caused so much protest in Gauteng,"
said DA spokesman Jack Bloom.
He estimated that R11 billion would be spent on the
contract over eight years and R6.6 billion would be saved if it was
cancelled.
"Damages would have to be paid for capital already
spent and for lost profits, but cancelling is still cheaper than
continuing with this contract," he said.
The implementation of the e-tolling system on Gauteng's
highways was postponed for a month by the transport department and SA
National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) on Thursday.
The announcement was made by transport director general
George Mahlalela, just hours after the African National Congress and
the Congress of SA Trade Unions said they would ask the government for a
month-long delay.
E-tolling was to have been implemented on 185 kilometres of highway in Johannesburg and Tshwane on Monday.