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Johannesburg - The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) needs R1.5 million to continue the fight against e-tolls in the Constitutional Court, it said on Thursday.
"Outa could take [the matter] to the Constitutional Court. It has been advised that it has solid grounds, but has a challenge of funding," Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage said at a media briefing in Johannesburg.
"We still remain R1.5m short."
Duvenage said it was now up to other organisations and parties with allies in the ANC to lobby for the tolling system not to be implemented.
Duvenage said Outa was not the only organisation opposed to the implementation of the system.
"Outa is not standing isolated or in the minority. [Its views] are shared by political parties, [Congress of SA Trade Unions], business forums, the ANC Youth League and faith-based organisations," Duvenage said.
On Wednesday, Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Fritz Brand refused an appeal to stop tolling on Gauteng’s major highways.
No turning back
Brand said the e-tolls clock could not be turned back.
"The clock cannot be turned back to when the toll roads were declared, and I think it would be contrary to the interest of justice to attempt to do so," said Brand.
The court held that despite everything that had been done and said, the reality was that the review application was brought five years after the toll roads were declared.
"In those five years, things have happened that cannot be undone," said Brand.
During his judgment he also made no order as to costs after refusing the appeal application by Outa.
However, he set aside a high court order directing Outa to pay the costs of the SA National Roads Agency Limited, the Gauteng transport MEC, and the national Treasury.
Duvenage said he was relieved the court had set aside the costs.
