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DA goes to court to halt e-tolling system

UNPOPULAR: One of the gantries across the Gauteng freeways. Photo: Robert Tshabalala
UNPOPULAR: One of the gantries across the Gauteng freeways. Photo: Robert Tshabalala

THE Democratic Alliance in Gauteng will seek a court interdict to stop the hugely unpopular e-tolling system, which begins operating in April.

Leader of the official opposition in the provincial legislature, Jack Bloom, revealed that his party would approach the courts in an attempt to halt the system, slating what he termed lack of in-depth consultation on the matter.

Addressing members of the house, Bloom said: "The matter is not history. The DA will go to court to stop these tolls.

"You can probably expect a court interdict because we all know (that) there was not enough consultation."

Bloom said the matter was not brought before the legislature prior to its implementation.

However, provincial transport MEC Ismail Vadi urged Bloom to move ahead with the court action but warned that the exercise would prove futile.

"I think the opposition party is now being foolish. That is my frank view," Vadi told the media in a separate briefing addressed by himself, local government and housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi and agriculture and rural development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza. "I am not concerned about that (court action) unless they go for an urgent court interdict."

  • Meanwhile, Mmemezi announced the creation of 26 mixed-housing developments that would see 196,272 houses built across the province.

These would be completed in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, West Rand and Sedibeng.

Mmemezi also urged residents earning between R3,501 and R15,000 to apply to their banks to take advantage of the R1-billion housing fund announced by President Jacob Zuma in his State of the Nation Address.

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