Dr Botha’s e-toll argument doesn’t hold water

IF THE arrogant Roelof Botha is the architect of the e-toll system, then I don’t consider him to be a clear-thinking economist (“Fuel levy will ‘hit poor the hardest’,” November 20).

Firstly, Dr Botha, I don’t believe 94 percent of the cost of e-tolls will be paid by the highest-earning group.

The reason I say this is because, in most cases, the highest-earning group will have their e-tolls paid for them either by their companies or government departments.

Most of these people will not feel the pinch of having to pay for e-tolls themselves.

I strongly object to taxpayers having to sponsor the taxi and bus industries. They are businesses for profit, and I very much doubt that they declare all their earnings to the taxman.

The reason for them being exempted is because the taxi industry would have caused havoc otherwise.

Dr Botha, part of my taxes are paying your salary. Are you prepared to tell me what you earn and if you are paying for e-tolls, or are Sanral employees exempt?

I also want to ask who the benefactors are. No one appears to have spelt this out.

It is very important information, and once it is known, we will understand the reason why e-tolls cannot be a failure for both the government and Sanral.

We have been told that a further decrease in petrol prices is on the cards. Would it not be better for part of the decrease to be allocated to the fuel levy account, thus getting Sanral out of the mess they have got themselves into?

Dr Botha, as an economist, I suggest you have a chat to the government about Sanral not getting all the money it earns from the fuel levies.

If you win, you will be sitting with billions and our roads will surely benefit at a rapid rate.

Gordon Dally

Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort