Outa cautions against the destruction of property
The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) says it is not surprised the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) expressing their opposition to e-Tolls.
“Given the EFF’s position on nationalising State assets, it would be difficult to think how they would support any form of tolling and most certainly not e-Tolling on Gauteng’s main commuter routes,” says Wayne Duvenage, chairman of Outa.
Outa says they do not support the destruction of the e-Tolling equipment as outlined by the EFF’s Gauteng organiser Lufuno Gogoro.
Instead, Outa supports any form of legal, peaceful and constructive plans to oppose the implementation of e-Tolling on Gauteng’s freeways.
Such measures also include passive resistance, such as not purchasing an e-Tag, which is not a legal requirement to travel on the Gauteng freeways.
“We believe that sufficient numbers within society will exercise their democratic rights not to purchase an e-Tag and will practice peaceful resistance actions and protests against the e-Toll system, in order to bring it down.
“Our new constitutional democracy must be supported, and we should not seek solutions to problems by means of violence or destruction of property, however, if the government continues to ignore the clear rejections from the cross section of society on the e-Toll matter, we warn that some frustrated elements within society may not wish to follow a democratic process,” Duvenage adds.
Outa says they remain hopeful that the new minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, in consultation with the Presidency, will seriously consider the voluminous broad-based opposition to e-Tolls, with a view to a new focus on an alternative solution that will be in the best interest of society.
