#DontBuyeTagDontBuy Vimal Sardar: Public Servant News Network Johannesburg: Something of interest Despite having invested a “couple of million” on systems to capture and integrate e-toll transactions, car-hire company, Avis, will be willing to drop them if a more appropriate mechanism for funding roads is found, says ceo, Keith Rankin. Last week, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, in his State of the Province address, said a panel would be set up to review the impact of the unpopular e-tolls, inviting “new proposals on how we can find a lasting solution to this matter, working with the national government, municipalities and all sectors of society”. Keith says the industry has to take a long-term view of road improvements as the need for better roads is ongoing. “Our view was always to support payment for upgrades of the roads but we found the e-toll collection quite expensive. We preferred the fuel levy option but if a better system can be found, we would be open to it.” Over and above the financial investment in accounting, Keith says there is a ‘people’ cost. Should e-tolls fall away, personnel would be re-deployed to more productive tasks. The Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (Savrala) welcomed Makhura’s announcement. It said, notwithstanding investments and ongoing daily e-toll administration, that it would be happy to participate on the premier’s proposed panel “with a view to help find an agreeable, sustainable and efficient solution to fund much-needed infrastructural upgrades while also noting the need to continue developing an integrated, reliable and efficient public transport system in Gauteng”. Writing in a column on the Daily Maverick yesterday, chairman of the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa), Wayne Duvenage, called on big business and industry to oppose e-tolls with more vigour, saying that individual members of the public, civil action groups, unions, some associations and faith based movements were the force behind denouncing the scheme. Other parties have ascribed the review to the ANC’s loss of votes in Gauteng in the May general elections. Also see dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2014-06-30-makhuras-e-toll-promise-but-will-business-take-up-the-baton/#.U7eXra9Zoy9
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 08:05:00 +0000
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