Members of the public called on Friday for the scrapping of the planned Gauteng tolls set to come into effect in February.
Commuter Tshepiso Makeleng told a public hearing in Johannesburg that he worked as a consultant and travelled about 200km a day to meet clients around Gauteng.
He said he would end up paying too much from his commission-only income and asked for the tolls to be scrapped.
The Gauteng petition standing committee heard concerns about the high cost of the tolls and of doing business, and about the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) continuing to register motorists for electronic tolling tags while public hearings were still underway.
Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile said the tolls would affect workers the most.
“Already, some companies have indicated that should the tolls be implemented they are going to retrench workers.”
The SA National Civic Organisation said long queues at taxi ranks were an indication that there were not enough minibuses to transport Gauteng commuters.
DA Gauteng MPL Jack Bloom brought a Sanral advertisement to the hearing to show that it was continuing with plans to implement the tolls even before public hearings had been concluded.
He called on the legislature to reflect the views of Gauteng motorists and scrap the tolls, which will cost between R0.40/km and R2/km, depending on the class of vehicle.
“These tolls are one tax too many,” Bloom said.
Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi acknowledged concerns raised by petitioners, particularly about the lack of consultation.
He said it was of concern that Sanral was going ahead with toll plans while public hearings were still underway.
However, he said his department did not have the power to address these concerns.
Vadi said he could only communicate them to the national transport department.
The hearings continue.
We don't want toll fees!
Members of the public called on Friday for the scrapping of the planned Gauteng tolls set to come into effect in February.
Commuter Tshepiso Makeleng told a public hearing in Johannesburg that he worked as a consultant and travelled about 200km a day to meet clients around Gauteng.
He said he would end up paying too much from his commission-only income and asked for the tolls to be scrapped.
The Gauteng petition standing committee heard concerns about the high cost of the tolls and of doing business, and about the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) continuing to register motorists for electronic tolling tags while public hearings were still underway.
Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile said the tolls would affect workers the most.
“Already, some companies have indicated that should the tolls be implemented they are going to retrench workers.”
The SA National Civic Organisation said long queues at taxi ranks were an indication that there were not enough minibuses to transport Gauteng commuters.
DA Gauteng MPL Jack Bloom brought a Sanral advertisement to the hearing to show that it was continuing with plans to implement the tolls even before public hearings had been concluded.
He called on the legislature to reflect the views of Gauteng motorists and scrap the tolls, which will cost between R0.40/km and R2/km, depending on the class of vehicle.
“These tolls are one tax too many,” Bloom said.
Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi acknowledged concerns raised by petitioners, particularly about the lack of consultation.
He said it was of concern that Sanral was going ahead with toll plans while public hearings were still underway.
However, he said his department did not have the power to address these concerns.
Vadi said he could only communicate them to the national transport department.
The hearings continue.
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