Cape Town - Transport Minister Dipuo Peters aims to push President Jacob Zuma to sign into law the electronic tolling bill, BDLive reported on Wednesday. The newly-appointed minister said she was expected to meet with presidential advisers to put pressure on them to ensure that Zuma signs the bill. "We are wishing he does it (signs the bill) very soon and will be communicating with his office to check where in the process it is," Dipuo was quoted as saying. The transport laws and related matters amendment bill was passed by the National Council of Provinces in May. The bill provides for the electronic and cross-border collection of toll fees. Peters said it was vital to recognise the convenience of upgraded freeways. "If you want convenience, you must pay for it - that is the reality of the situation and I think people must just be fair and understand that," she told the news agency. Tolling was supposed to begin in April 2011, but at least three proposed start dates have failed to materialise. Tariffs have also been cut twice since legal battles about the issue started and further cuts are reported to be on the cards. However, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said the public is not fooled by reduced e-toll tariffs. "Sugar-coating the pill now merely prolongs that pain that society will have to endure later, unless of course there will be more transfers from Treasury under renegotiation of the contracts to significantly reduce the costs of collection," Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage said at the time. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng called on Dipuo when she was appointed earlier this month to ditch the controversial e-tolling system. "Minister Peters must take this opportunity and heed the public outcry and warning signs around the unworkable project," DA provincial leader John Moodey said in a statement at the time. E-tolling has been widely criticised by various quarters in society, including ANC alliance partner Cosatu and religious organisations.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 09:16:33 +0000
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