‘Pure hypocrisy’ as government doesn’t pay E-tolls
DA Shadow Minister of Transport Manny de Freitas said it is pure hypocrisy that Government calls on citizens and businesses to buy e-tags and pay E-tolls, when governments themselves refuse to pay E-tolls.
This was confirmed in a reply to a DA Parliamentary question, which revealed that the three worst offending local governments in Gauteng are:
- Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality, which owes Sanral R1 838 383
- City of Tshwane Metropolitan municipality owes R351 644
- Emfuleni Local municipality owes R127 685
De Freitas said the Government is being blatantly unfair by expecting citizens to do something they aren’t prepared to.
“The DA has long held that e-tolls are double taxation and that the E-toll scheme is a job killing scheme.
“The people of Gauteng have also spoken loud and clear in their rejection of E-tolls, and their voices have been largely ignored.
“Now even governed municipalities have rejected E-tolls and refuse to pay them,” he said.
De Freitas said that not only are some municipalities not paying their e-toll bills but some have not even signed up for e-tags.
Emfuleni local municipality has not registered a single one of its vehicles for e-tags.
“It is time that the government heeds these calls, recognises the unsuitability of E-tolls, and scraps the job killing scheme for good.”
Also read:
New E–toll dispensation met with defiance
Anti e–toll protest gains momentum in Boksburg
E–tolls not scrapped, tariffs revised
