Godongwana to rule on e-tolls

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to pronounce on the controversial e-tolls when he delivers his Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on 4 November.

This is according to a tweet by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula titled “Decision On E-tolls Remains Pending”, with a copy of an earlier statement issued by Mbalula on the future of e-tolls on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).

He said in the tweet: “I have noted statements to the effect that I suggested that e-tolls cannot be scrapped. Such statements are at best mischievous and at worst malicious.”

Moneyweb reported on Wednesday that a final decision on the future of e-tolls on the GFIP has not been taken by the government despite reported comments by Mbalula late last week that the system cannot be scrapped.

The Citizen reported yesterday that Mbalula had reiterated that national roads must be maintained and that this costs money, which means the e-toll system cannot be scrapped.

Eyewitness News reported that Mbalula had announced that an e-toll funding solution would be found, but the gantries were here to stay.

Moneyweb’s article said Mbalula’s comments had caused some confusion, with some people interpreting them as being the government’s long-awaited final decision on the scheme but that Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams had confirmed a final decision on the matter has definitely not yet been made.

Attempts to get comment from Mbalula’s spokesperson, Lawrence Venkile, were unsuccessful.

Mbalula said in the statement it was common cause the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the Gauteng government, among others, are opposed to e-tolls. “We have taken into consideration their concerns... Over the past few months, we have been emphatic that the matter of e-tolls is a matter that Cabinet is seized with,” he said.