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Opposition parties blast e-toll appeal plans

18 May 2012

According to Allafrica.com, Cabinet's decision to appeal against the High Court in Pretoria's interim order against e-tolling was condemned by opposition parties. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) spokesman Steve Swart described the decision as "regrettable" and asked whether the National Treasury would bail out the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral).

Freedom Front Plus spokesman Anton Alberts said the government was showing its contempt for taxpayers with its decision to appeal. "Government is trying to prove a point with taxpayer's money," he said.

The Justice Project of SA (JPSA) expressed disappointment at Cabinet's decision. "We [...] need to ask whether the intention to appeal the interdict has anything to do with an attempt to halt a full inquiry into the project in order to cover up possible corruption or not," JPSA said in a statement. The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesman Jack Bloom said Cabinet's decision to appeal was "foolish and doomed to fail," adding that Government's appeal "will just drag out the court proceedings, creating further uncertainty in the credit markets," Allafrica.com reports.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) reports that Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said Cabinet has taken a decision to appeal the interim order to stop the e-tolling. He said that, in order to improve Gauteng freeways and roads to the benefits of motorists, Government had borrowed money and incurred a significant debt. "As a country we need to demonstrate unequivocal commitment to meet all our contractual obligations [and defaulting] on our debt is simply not an option," Manyi said.

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