Johannesburg — Gauteng Finance MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, says the provincial government will approach the national government regarding a possible long-term e-toll payment.
Mambalo delivered the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in the Gauteng provincial legislature on Tuesday.
“Ministers made a statement, there is no going back on that the negotiations will be finalised, and we will make an announcement on this issue. As I announced during the medium-term budget policy statement in the 2023/ 2024 financial year, there will be no specific location for our obligation on e-tolls this year,” Jacaranda quoted Mambolo as saying.
ICYMI: Today, Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo unveiled Gauteng’s 2023 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. Explore economic priorities and job creation. Watch the recorded livestream here: https://t.co/oRINTtT329
— eNCA (@eNCA) November 28, 2023
He said the the R13b sum required from Gauteng to settle the e-toll debt will present a major risk to the province’s fiscus and that an agreement with national government should result in re-purposing gantries for crime prevention, SABC News reported.
“To this extent, we will submit our concrete proposal to the national government before 15 December 2023 and expect feedback and finality before the State of the Province Address next year.
In January this year, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) said there was no reason for the delay in scrapping e-tolls, with the Gauteng government adding that there is still no agreement with the National Treasury to conclude the deactivation of the e-toll system.
Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, announced the decision to scrap e-tolls during his mid-term budget. He said the national government would take over 70% of the debt, leaving the rest to the provincial government.
[WATCH] The MEC of Finance unpacks the key highlights of the #GautengMTBPS2023 on @Newzroom405. #GrowingGautengTogether pic.twitter.com/U6RvuWCbYo
— MEC Jacob Mamabolo (@JacobMamaboloSA) November 28, 2023
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
