Motorists won't tol(erate) e-tolls

Cape Town - Electronic tolling of Gauteng's highways has the public revving with anger and as the system comes into effect at midnight on Monday, it remains to be seen if motorists will pay up or find alternative routes.

Fin24 has been inundated with user comments, mostly venting anger over the controversial system.  

"Only a fool would fall for this drivel. It is extortion," wrote Jenny Nel.

She encouraged motorists not to get an e-tag, while also taking a swipe at those who have registered.

"Do not buy an e-tag. To those of you who have, shame on you. We need to stand together on this one."

Magda Smith shared these sentiments, but she went a step further saying she doesn't care even if she is jailed. "We will not pay for e-tolling. You can lock me up ... I don't care."

She also voiced her disappointment with the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria throwing out the e-tolls case brought by the Freedom Front Plus.

"I think the law is failing the people of South Africa just as the ANC government [is]."

Another Fin24 reader Manana expressed his anger about the price of e-tolls amid spiralling living costs. 

"We will have to pay for our car licence disc every year, toll-gates, petrol prices are always going up and now e-tolls ... we have families to feed."

Manana said: “Most of us earn little money and we can hardly afford to support ourselves and our kids. How are we going to be able to survive now?"

Ksekome wrote in saying that government officials should feel the same pain as ordinary South Africans.

"The president and the people from government are using tax payers' money for transport and e-tolling. All car allowances and petrol must be stopped so that they can feel the same pain."

Stephen Vivier noted that even tax payers' money will be used to prosecute motorists. "It's sad how Sanral and the government have bullied us into this e-toll disaster."

However, he said that motorists are likely to bear the costs. "No matter what, we will probably end up paying, as we are ultimately responsible for our country's debt albeit due to mismanagement and skulduggery."

Strauss Bornman labelled South Africa as a dictatorship. "I will forever refuse to buy an e-tag, no public input was ever asked, and forcing this into law makes our country a dictatorship."

Meanwhile, there has been mixed reaction to the e-tolls debate on Twitter:

No to e-tags! No to e-tolls! I'll take the back roads and if I happen upon one of your gantries you can post me the account for my R2.50.

— Kat_nap (@LifeasKath) December 2, 2013

Some were hopeful that the launch will be delayed because of the number of unregistered motorists.

I bet Sanral will announce a grace period for e-tolls. Too many unregistered users ahead of launch. They don't want the admin headache

— Duncan McLeod (@mcleodd) December 2, 2013

Others supported the system ...

@SakinaKamwendo SA middle class protest on twitter instead of taking to the streets they lazy i say E-tolls should go ahead

— Mduduzi mbulelo (@M_uneek) December 2, 2013

However, as midnight looms, all eyes will be on the turnout of compliant motorists, despite all the protest action be it on the streets or online.

E-tolls about to start in Gauteng high ways. Looking forward to c the response road users tomorrow morning.

— Neville Khoza (@nnKhoza6) December 2, 2013

- Fin24