By Kaya 959 Reporter
The DA is once again calling for the government to do away with e-tolls.
The party’s spokesperson on health, Jack Bloom, says there is no sense in continuing the e-tolls as the collection costs outweigh the money that is brought in.
In a written reply to questions put forward by the DA, Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi said the department has spent R1 064 420 on e-tolls for its vehicles since January last year.
According to the MEC, the department has no outstanding e-toll payments. It has a current invoice in process for R65 000.
Bloom says e-tolls have cost Gauteng’s health department more R4 million since it launched in December 2013
“Despite Premier David Makhura’s frequent promises that the e-tolls would be scrapped, they remain as an unnecessary expense for government departments and those businesses that still pay them, although most motorists don’t,” Bloom adds.
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E-tolls matter receiving priority attention
There have been numerous calls for the government to eradicate the system. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says there are several factors to consider in the process of finalising the e-toll matter.
“It is not simply a matter of scrapping and not scrapping despite the overwhelming demand to scrap.”
Mbalula recently met with stakeholders in the transport sector. He expressed the challenges posed by the delay in making a final decision on e-tolls.
“The final determination is about how best to carry the cost burden of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, while maintaining these roads in a pristine condition,” Mbalula explains.
The Minister says Cabinet is giving the matter of e-tolls priority attention. He says officials will finalise the matter soon.
“We agreed with the Minister of Finance that the announcement of the final decision will be made during the Budget Speech in February 2022.”
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