AA calls for e-tolls to be scrapped

The Automobile Association (AA) has raised concerns over Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula's recent remarks indicating that e-tolls would not be scrapped and that a funding solution will be found.

JMK via Wikimedia Commons

The AA stated that its research shows Gauteng motorists will not pay under any circumstances.

The AA has also reiterated its position saying that government should do away with the system and reimburse those who have historically paid in light of Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s recent remarks indicating that e-tolls would not be scrapped and that a funding solution will be found.

National roads must be maintained and this costs money. We are a caring government but have a country to run and an economy to sustain and we’ve got hard decisions to make regarding this matter. People are complaining about e-tolls yet they not even paying, they must bear with the government until we are done deciding.– Fikile Mbalula

Layton Beard, AA spokesperson, said that the AA's concern is that they, as the AA, know that compliance levels are very low. Beard said those will not change even under the threat of legal action. The bottom line in the AA's view, continued Beard, is that e-tolls need to be scrapped. He said that there are many other mechanisms in which that money can be found.