A vote for the DA is a vote against e-tolls
With all the anti-e-toll campaigns that have been taking place, Gauteng road-users still awakened to tolled highways on Tuesday morning.
The opposition Democratic Alliance has launched their controversial anti-tolls campaign with new billboards in Gauteng, with the message: A vote for the DA is a vote against e-tolls.
The political party has promised that this is the start to an intensive campaign to mobilise Gauteng voters against the ruling government, which has introduced e-tolling.
DA Premier candidate for Gauteng, Mmusi Maimane, says it is a fact that people can’t afford e-tolls, no matter how much Sanral says they can.
“Many people are refusing to buy e-tags. This is their prerogative and their right,” he says.
“It is important to send out a strong message to the government that people don’t want e-tolls.”
Maimane adds that he will take information on the costs of travelling along all major routes in Gauteng directly to the people, as part of a mass mobilisation campaign against e-tolls.
“But, ultimately, the strongest message we can send out is at the ballot box,” he says.
“If people don’t want e-tolls, they must vote out the party that has unjustly forced this system on us.
“We can fight the further roll-out of e-tolls if we are elected to government. And, make no mistake, the ANC has plans to roll out even more e-toll gantries on our highways.”
Maimane adds that plans to fight e-tolling as Premier include a provincial referendum so that people can make their voice heard against the system.
“As Premier, I am prepared to interdict the next phase of e-tolls that will see gantries go up on a further 300km of roads, including major routes like the Ben Schoeman Highway,” he says.
“We have also gone to court to have the e-tolling bill sent back to parliament, on the basis that it was unconstitutionally passed.”
Maimane says e-tolling will kill jobs in Gauteng and put an extra financial burden on people at a time when they can least afford it.
“Our message to the people is clear: we will put everything into the fight against this unjust and unaffordable system, but we need your vote to do it.”
