Don't buy e-tags says Samwu

23 Apr 2013

South Africans should not be "fooled" into buying e-tags‚ according to the SA Municipal Workers' Union.

"Fellow South Africans must join hands with unions‚ the general public‚ and civil society calling for an end to e-tolling. We must not back down as this fight is one worth fighting until the end‚" Samwu spokesman Tahir Sema said in a statement released on Monday (22 April).

"This union strongly believes that the pressure of the masses is crucial to forcing government to back down on this blatant extortion," Sema said.

He added that Samwu aimed to make e-tolls "uncollectable".

"If the e-tolling is implemented it will affect everyone - those who have cars and even those who don't‚" Sema said.

"Roads are a national asset for the country‚ not a source of private profit‚ let alone a handsome profit for tenderpreneurs," he claimed.

Earlier in the month‚ the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) said it would begin e-tolling on Gauteng roads within the next two months.

"What we are now waiting for is the completion of the parliamentary process‚ half of which is already done‚" Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said in a statement at the time. In April last year‚ the High Court in Pretoria granted the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) an interdict approving a full judicial review of e-tolling before it could be put into effect.

The interdict prevented Sanral from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of a review. Sanral and the National Treasury appealed the court orde and in September last year‚ the Constitutional Court set aside the interim order.

In December‚ the High Court in Pretoria dismissed Outa's application to scrap e-tolling.

The court granted Outa leave to take the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein. The SCA hearing will take place in September this year.

Source: I-Net Bridge

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