Toll roads in Gauteng

This week none other than the Honourable Deputy President, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, in a press conference announced the new measures (whether they were actually the ones that were recommended by the Investigating Committee we will never know) of the decisions taken in reference to the ‘much debated and contentious issue around toll roads in Gauteng that has ever been or created in South Africa.’

It all started well with the usual ‘good story that the ruling government specifically the ANC has to tell’ which has actually become boring as it is used in each and every meeting or press address that the ruling government does, and the people attending the press conference were jubilant – finally a reduction in per kilometer rate, a reduction in the maximum amount that may be charged per month, (that is if you buy the E-tag and pay its monthly charge) and once again everyone thought that the ruling party is really ‘caring’ to make things better.

But all of that changed very quickly when told that all outstanding fees from December 2013 that even after being discounted by 60% but still charged at the high initial cost per kilometer, would have to be paid within 6 months, that licenses would be withheld if outstanding toll fees are not paid, etc. ect. and suddenly the good story really changed into a ‘very bad story’ especially so when in the ‘fine print’ it was mentioned on how the government and ruling party for that matter plans to extend on tolling roads, in an around Gauteng that has never been tolled before, and then the press conference, which was met with a lot of anticipation turned sour and all those present became disgruntled on how the ruling party manipulates them more and more each and every day.

They will never give, without taking more in return!

In the end the only way to describe what has been achieved is by saying, as Wayne Duvenage, the Chairperson of the OUTA rightfully stated:

“What was said and what is to be implemented is equivalent to putting lip stick on a pig! The government in its actions only trying to colour something in’ that should never have been, as no one had ever asked for it to be done.