South Africans refuse to pay R1 billion E-toll bill

A recent reply to a DA Parliamentary question has shown that the people of South Africa continue to resoundingly reject the imposition of E-tolls in Gauteng. Of the 1 134 834 unaudited registered and active accounts identified on the E-tolls network, as at 31 May 2014, overdue payments of over three months amount to R156 623 567. Amounts owed by road users dating less than 90 days are said to amount to R995 362 885. That means road users have refused to pay over a billion rands worth of E-tolls payments. Considering the system only came online in early December of 2013, the level of overdue payments act as yet another indicator that motorists’ on South Africa’s roads continue to reject the system. This taken together with the so called “review” of the e-tolling project by Gauteng Premier David Makhura – itself an admission of a failing system – Parliament must give expression to the South Africans wishes and push for the complete review of the E-toll scheme, with the view of implementing its dissolution. To allow the system to continue to function as it has not only serves to ignore the massive public outcry over E-tolls but also callously ignores the added economic burden placed on the already strained finances of South Africans. The DA will continue to lead the fight against E-tolls in Parliament on behalf of the people of South Africa.