Makhura throws his weight behind e-toll system

GAUTENG premier David Makhura sought to win over support for e-tolling when he addressed the provincial SACP conference in Benoni yesterday .

Makhura was speaking at a public gathering for the first time since Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa made his announcement about proposed changes to the e-toll system in Parliament this week.

Makhura attempted to defuse tensions around the unpopular programme, saying that delegates needed to debate his government’s interventions to transfor m the province’s economy. “I know some of you are asking about the e-toll question. The most critical intervention we are yet to make is in public transport.”

The SACP had been one of the vocal opponents of e-tolling in Gauteng. But the party appeared to have softened its stance this week following Ramaphosa’s report-back. It called the new tariffs a “positive step forward”.

The party called on the working class to be vigilant to ensure that public infrastructure was publicly funded.

The start of the party’s conference yesterday was characterised by appeals for unity in the fractured tripartite alliance before next year’s local government elections. Speakers and delegates expressed concern about the ruling party’s vulnerability at the polls.

SACP Gauteng chair man Joe Mpisi blamed Zwelinzima Vavi and the National Union of Metal Workers of SA for divisions in the labour federation Cosatu.

Mpisi said Numsa was a “non-governmental organisation trying to overthrow the ANC-led government”.

Makhura acknowledged that the ANC had come out of last year’s national elections wounded, and urged delegates to work hard to “defeat the enemy”.

“As we move to elections, we are going to face challenges,” he stressed. “The ANC Youth League is no longer what it used to be.”

The ANC Women’s League was struggling as well. The league has failed on at least two occasions to hold its national conference.

The SACP conference continues in Benoni throughout the weekend.