Mbaks mum on e-tolls

QUESTIONS: MINISTER’S OFFICE SAYS ANNOUNCEMENT DUE ON THURSDAY

EFF has threatened to ‘take to the streets’ if the system in not scrapped.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s office yesterday ignored several questions about his stance on the ongoing e-tolls saga, and simply promised that a decision on the matter can be expected by Thursday.

This after his latest statement on e-tolls prompted the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng to threaten taking to the streets if the system is not scrapped.

At a briefing on the state of aviation on Thursday, following the grounding of planes earlier this week, Mbalula urged motorists to pay up, saying this was needed to maintain road infrastructure.

Mbalula said corrupt officials and insufficient communication had played a role in people refusing to pay for e-tolls.

He encouraged motorists to embrace the unpopular system.

The EFF, however, isn’t having it, and said “the residents of Gauteng must be ready and prepared to take to the streets if needs be”.

“We call on continued, resolute and united public action of boycott against e-tolls,” a statement from the party said.

“We reiterate that e-tolls were never in the first place supposed to be imposed on the people of Gauteng.

“The ANC government promised Gauteng people on several occasions, like during the 2016 local government elections, that they will do away with e-tolls. Yet, it’s national ministers [that] always take [the] platform to contradict this, stating that paying e-tolls is government policy.