Cape Town - The government will in future proceed more
carefully with the introduction of e-tolling, Transport Minister Sibusiso
Ndebele said on Tuesday.
Public reaction to phase one of the Gauteng Freeway
Improvement Project (GFIP) had taught it a "key lesson" when it came
to procedure and public participation, he told reporters in Cape Town.
"One of the key lessons we've learnt... is that never
again will we have a situation where a city or province takes a decision that
has monumental national consequences, and is taken only by a city or a
province.
"In future, we will consider very carefully, and
discuss and accept the implications of any decision of that kind."
Although tolling on national roads was well understood, the
GFIP was the first of its kind in an urban centre.
"It's the first of its kind, and we have learnt some
quite serious lessons."
Ndebele said a "new dialogue" was needed on how to
proceed with this type of tolling in future.
It was in this context that phase two of the GFIP had been
halted until such a discussion had been held.
"Or Winelands (Toll Road Project) in Cape Town. We say
whoa, lets discuss, and then we'll proceed."
In the future, the government needed to make itself clear.
"Meaning that the public participation and endorsement
- everybody must know the implications of the demand," Ndebele said.
"I am sure we are going to proceed with... phase two, but it must have this element of everyone understanding the implications... as motorists and users of that road."