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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi asserts that e-tolls are a thing of the past, despite the National Treasury contending that the province hasn't met the conditions set out to get rid of the contentious project.
Lesufi expressed his stance on X this weekend, reiterating the message he has consistently conveyed since assuming the role of premier in 2022.
“eTolls are history. We will clear up the confusion. Thanks to the transport minister for clarifying this confusion. Sunrise will not find us where sunset let us. Days are never counted backwards,” he said, quoting a tweet by Newzroom Afrika in which Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga discussed scrapping the billion-rand project.
Ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Gondongwana's budget speech last week, Lesufi’s spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, was sent questions by City Press about the 31 March deadline to finally scrap e-tolls, announced by Lesufi in his 2024 state of the province address.
READ: Hlengani Mathebula | The poor will foot the bill for e-tolls
Pamla declined to answer questions, including why the scrapping was taking so long and what had occurred since Lesufi's similar statement in his 2023 state of the province address. Pamla asserted that all those questions would be addressed in Gondongwana’s speech.
Gondongwana's speech did not, however, provide updates on the matter.
Pressed on these questions, Pamla contacted City Press on Wednesday, stating that a technical task team, comprised of the National Treasury, transport, Sanral, and the Gauteng government, was established to find a solution to the e-toll issue.
“They would meet as a task team and then the ministers' political principles would brief them. By the beginning of the year, the only outstanding item was the issue of funding from the Gauteng side. So the task team concluded its work. The province and national departments have agreed to adopt the results of the task team, stating that we agree this is how e-tolls are going to be eliminated.”
Pamla stated:
Pamla advised City Press to verify with Sanral and the national department of transport whether this was accurate.
“Remember, the national government owns the e-tolls. The province doesn't own them, so the province cannot switch them off. The province has done everything expected by the national government, committing R12 billion to settle the debt. Now, inquire with national transport, the owners of e-tolls, about when they plan to switch them off,” he added.
Gondongwana, responding to questions from MPs in Parliament's joint finance committees, stated that Gauteng had not yet met the preconditions for scrapping e-tolls, contrary to Pamla's suggestion.
READ: No deal yet to end e-tolls, says Godongwana
On Friday, Sanral responded to questions based on Pamla's statements, stating: “Sanral has taken note of various pronouncements in relation to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) and e-tolls. Sanral will take direction from its shareholder representative, the minister of transport, before making any comment on the matter.
“The e-toll infrastructure is a significant asset capable of enhancing mobility, road safety and other transport-related services on Gauteng’s freeways. Sanral is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders in this regard.”
The national department of transport did not respond to the questions.
However, the minister of transport informed Newzroom Afrika on Friday that “the e-tolls programme has been stopped”. Chikunga said:
