Message to government on eTolling

Peter Mazibuko has this to say..

re: TOLLING IN GAUTENG

Minister,       

1. It is true that the majority of road users in Gauteng are talking.

2. It is equally true that you are listening.

But are you really doing something after you have listened? No you are not; except for your adverse actions.

You said marching is not going to solve anything: may I remind the Hon Minister that you are sitting where you’re presently because people in this country marched against apartheid.   And apartheid was solved.

The government must develop a culture of taking appropriate actions after it has listened to the people. The government must refrain from using dictators’ strategy in addressing complains of the communities it is mandated to serve.

To this day, Egypt, Libya and other are still battling to settle-in politically, while Syria is going up in smoke.  Do we really want to head in that direction? NO!!

Protests mushrooming all over against this government’s non delivery of services are enough!  Please don’t provoke the community into starting up yet another version of a protest fire somewhere.

The Gauteng tolling systems are just too many, and, are so close to one another just like a casino gambling machines.    The difference is that, at a casino, some gamblers do win big at times: whereas your machines are meant to gobble the money all the way till death do us part.

I propose you convert those money gobbling tolling systems into speed trap systems. Due to lack of vision and foresight on the part of the government, you can also use them to monitor accidents on the highways.  If you like, you can add ‘vehicle counting’ just for fun, and, sell those stats.

But stop treating us like cash cows Mr Minister.