AFRICA GAUTENG PROVINCE E-toll referendum the only way – DA January 21 2015 at 07:22am By Baldwin Ndaba Comment on this story #pp//: By Paul Tlhankana Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has asked premier David Makhura to call for a referendum to test the views of local residents on e-tolls.  The DA maintains that Gauteng residents want the total scrapping of e-tolls and nothing else. The main oppositions call came on Tuesday as Makhura urged local residents to offer suggestions on what he should include in his planned second State of the Province address on February. Motshwari Mofokeng Makhura has given residents until February 16 to give him suggestions to the following address: [email protected] DA transport spokesman Neil Campbell, left, John Moodey, MPL, and Justus de Goede, the partys spokesman on roads, address the media on the controversial e-tolls at the Gauteng legislature. Residents can also comment on the Gauteng governments Facebook wall and leave suggestions for the premier on facebook/GPPremier Office, or follow the Gauteng government on Twitter (@GautengProvince) and tweet their views. The address is scheduled for 19 February 19. Gauteng DA leader John Moodey said Makhura must conduct a referendum that would reflect the opinion of the residents on e-tolls. “He must ask the people of Gauteng on February 19 to say yes or no on the scrapping of e-tolls. “He must then use this mandate from the people to negotiate the end of e-tolling with the national government. The peoples voice on e-tolling must prevail, not the panels voice,” he said. Moodey added that his party was opposed to Makhuras panel, which was set up to assess the socio-economic effects e-tolls had on Gauteng residents. ‘UNFAIR AND UNJUST SYSTEM’ “In its recommendations, the panel proposed a so-called hybrid system, where funding sourced from tolls and other means, such as increased licensing fees, tyre taxes, vehicle licence renewals and ring-fencing the fuel levy. “In short, Makhuras panel has recommended that e-tolling must remain when the vast majority of us oppose it,” Moodey said. He accused Makhura of betraying the people of the province by refusing to call for the scrapping of e-tolls “despite the overwhelming public opposition to this unfair and unjust system”. Moodey also said Makhura had failed to make the call despite the finding of his panel that the poor and working class were bearing the brunt of the financial burden of e-tolls. “Shifting gantries around is not pro-poor in the least, as Makhura claims. It is anti-poor. E-tolls drive up the costs of goods and services, severely slowing down economic growth and hampering job creation. All residents, including the poor, will still pay for e-tolls through higher prices, lost jobs and restricted movement.” Moodey added: “The review panel process offered the people of Gauteng no relief whatsoever, and they will be forced to pay despite the premier promising otherwise.” Gauteng legislature communication head Thabo Masebe said the premier would first consult and then make announcements afterwards. “The advisory panel made a number of recommendations which offer sustainable solutions to the problems associated with the e-tolls. The premier is engaging the national government on the recommendations of the panel and we believe this engagement will produce positive results. “The meeting with stakeholders will take place next month to consider the recommendations and their implications,” Masebe said. The Star
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:25:51 +0000