By Kaya 959 News
Gauteng motorists celebrated news on Thursday that government has allegedly decided to scrap its controversial e-tolls system.
The celebrations started shortly after transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo’s interview with Stephen Grootes.
SAfm declared after the interview that e-tolls had been scrapped.
But the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) warned motorists not to celebrate yet.
“While @OUTA would LOVE for this to be true after our intense fight to get #etolls scrapped, we must point out that we are waiting for minister of Transport @MbalulaFikile (or @David_Makhura or @PresidencyZA) to issue a statement. We are careful to celebrate before it’s official.”
While @OUTA would LOVE for this to be true after our intense fight to get #etolls scrapped, we must point out that we are waiting for minister of Transport @MbalulaFikile (or @David_Makhura or @PresidencyZA) to issue a statement. We are careful to celebrate before it's official. https://t.co/GmUCDSzLaQ
— OUTA (@OUTASA) May 27, 2021
No official announcement
Mamabolo took to Twitter shortly after e-tolls started trending to clarify the comments he made during the interview.
He described the announcement made by SAfm as “misleading”. Mamabolo stressed that an official announcement has not been made, but a decision is “imminent”.
The MEC hinted that the decision will be a “favourable” one.
“All we are saying as Gauteng is that National Government will make an announcement on eTolls and we are positive it will be favourable to our position which is public knowledge.”
The DA, meanwhile, labelled Mamabolo’s comments as “more empty promises”.
More empty promises on #eTolls!
The Gauteng Provincial Government has no intention of declaring an intergovernmental dispute on this matter even though it is clear that the National Government is just spewing empty promises on this issue. pic.twitter.com/NkIP5qcDMU
— Democratic Alliance Gauteng Legislature (@DA_GPL) May 27, 2021
Celebrations on Twitter continue
Despite there being no official confirmation, many motorists continue to celebrate.
The ANC have gone and done it again…they are scrapping the e-tolls. Is it coincidence that the Bi-Elections are around the corner?😅🤔#etolls pic.twitter.com/EZ67MGNrYd
— TH▲B▲NG M▲NTUTLE (@ThabangMantutle) May 27, 2021
#Etolls So my understanding of the e-tolls issue from the SAFM interview is that the "burden" of paying will no longer be limited to Gauteng anymore.
"We are looking to a completely new e-toll dispensation. We are waiting for that to be formalised." – Mamabolo
— Sibahle Motha 💕❤️🇿🇦 (@SibahleMo) May 27, 2021
We need our refunds, ngeke phela! #etolls
— Goje Hlase (@dumisani668) May 27, 2021
We, the people of #SouthAfrica, United against #etolls and won. The people should never let the government bully them or fear the government. The government must fear the people. #UnitedWeStand #UnitedWeRoar https://t.co/6nWpIYjm7A
— S L 🇿🇦 (@S_Lrt) May 27, 2021



