AA: Don't use our name to push e-tolls

Johannesburg - The Automobile Association (AA) has re-affirmed its opposition to e-tolling after Sanral referenced the association in a statement, it said on Wednesday.

In the statement, the South African National Roads Agency Limited's (Sanral) spokesperson Vusi Mona made reference to AA studies on the costs of traffic congestion to the economy, AA spokesperson Marius Luyt said.

"The Association is concerned that reference has been made to its name and views in the context of a Sanral press statement which promotes e-tolling, a system which the AA has consistently opposed," he said in a statement.

The AA agreed that traffic congestion affected the effectiveness of the economy.

In 2007, it was one of the original objectors to the funding of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project via tolling.

"References to studies we have done, or the mention of the AA name by Sanral spokespeople should not be interpreted to mean that the AA has changed its stance on the issue of how best to fund the roads which need to be built to relieve congestion," Luyt said.

"We wish to re-affirm that we remain opposed to e-tolling."

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