EFF gives govt. two weeks to scrap e-tolls

The EFF says it will render the controversial e-tolling system unworkable.

EFF members march against e-tolling in Johannesburg on 1 November 2013. Picture: Govan Whittles/EWN

Eyewitness News | 2137 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has given government two weeks to scrap the controversial e-tolling system or face serious consequences.

The EFF says it will render the system unworkable and has once again accused the ANC of having a heart of stone and trying to turn Gauteng road users into slaves.

The party's Mbuyiseni Ndlozi on Friday told protestors outside the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) that the EFF will start its campaign against tolling immediately.

"We give you a notice that we shall embark on both civil disobedience and direct action to render your e-tolls dysfunctional."

He says the state has two weeks to act.

"We demand that government announces in two weeks that people are free from the anti-African e-tolls of slavery."

About 200 EFF members marched from the Mary Fitzgerald square in Newton to the offices of the Premier and the Gauteng Department of Transport to hand over a memorandum calling for the system to be scrapped.

Meanwhile, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) has raised questions about the resignation of a top manager involved in the e-tolling project.

The organisation says the CEO of Electronic Tolling Company (ETC) Salahdin Yacoubi, which has been hired by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to manage the technical side of the system, has stepped down apparently due to personal reasons.

Outa's Wayne Duvenage says the timing of the resignation is suspicious.

"To have a sudden resignation something is clearly amiss. We believe it has something to do with the work ability and the inefficiencies of e-tolling so it will be interesting to see what the reasons are."

However, Sanral says Yacoubi's resignation will have no impact on its contract with ETC.

E-tolling is due to be launched within weeks.

Timeline

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