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Cape Town - Opposition to e-tolls has gone mobile with a new game that takes a sardonic look at the implementation of government policy.
TollFree is developed by Devemoco and billed as a game on smartphones.
The application uses your location and maps your driving route, awarding points for passing through e-toll gantries. But the game makes it clear that it's directed at civil disobedience for e-tolls.
"Why pay, just play," is the tagline for the app which is available as a free download on the Google Play Store.
In his budget speech, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene indicated that the government had considered the objections to e-tolls, but ultimately, they would go ahead.
Transport infrastructure
"Measures will also be taken to ease compliance and improve enforcement. But cost recovery from road-users will continue to be the principal financing mechanism for this major road system," Nene said.
The government though, has promised a major spending increase for transportation in SA.
In his chaotic State of the Nation address, President Jacob Zuma said that spending would be directed to un-tolled roads in the current budget cycle.
"The Department of Transport will spend about R9bn on the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant or the Sihamba Sonke Programme and R11bn on upgrading and maintaining roads which are not tolled."
In addition, Zuma said that public transport spending would be increased.
"Over R6bn will be spent in 13 cities on planning, building and operating integrated public transport networks during this financial year."
The TollFree exploits popular unhappiness with the e-toll system, but the developers were quick to point out that they were not responsible for any reckless civil disobedience action.
"This app is just for fun, please drive responsibly," Devemoco wrote.
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