Cape Town — Rise Mzansi premier candidate, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, is calling for Gauteng premier, Panyaza Lesufi, to resign should he fail to fulfill his promise to scrap e-tolls.
Lesufi said last week that the province will begin the process to deactivate e-tolls in the province. Lesufi promised that e-tolls would be scrapped by 31 March. However, opposition parties have taken issue with Lesufi, saying he better fulfill his promise or face the consequences.
Ramokgopa sent an open letter to Lesufi, demanding that he release all records on e-tolls to the public within seven days. Lesufi’s office said he was not responsible for e-tolls or switching off the system, The Citizen reported.
“The premier has no power to switch off e-tolls because he does not have control over it. It belongs to the national transport department. The issue of e-tolls debt was resolved through negotiations at intergovernmental level. The question of switch off lies with the national transport department as the custodians of the system. There is no outstanding issue to prevent the switch off as we reached a consensus on how the debt should be paid.” Lesufi’s spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said.
📖In an Open letter, RISE Mzansi’s Gauteng Premier Candidate, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, has called for the resignation of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, he he fails to switch of the e-toll system by 31 March 2024, as he stated in his State of the Province Address. #WeNeedNewLeaders… https://t.co/YikKscfXB2
— RISE Mzansi (@Rise_Mzansi) February 28, 2024
Ramokgopa said National Treasury (NT) has repeatedly refuted claims that the requirements for scrapping e-tolls have been met. The outstanding issues include legal protocols needing to be followed in scrapping the system. Ramokgopa remained insistent that Lesufi had “lied” about his intention to scrap e-tolls.
“Twice in a row, in your State of the Province Address, you fed residents lies about your intention to scrap the burdensome e-tolling system. It has become clear that e-tolls serve only to line the pockets of the corrupt at the expense of hard working Gauteng residents,” Ramokgopa said.
Transport minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, tried to clear up confusion over the issue, saying that the structures will remain up for crime prevention purposes, not for e-tolling, BusinessTech reported.
Chikunga appears to support Lesufi’s words form his SOPA speech, reiterating that e-tolls have come to an end. She said there is no agreement that needs to be signed, as Treasury has already determined that e-tolls would end with a 70/30 split in paying off the debt.
National Treasury deputy director-general of public finance at National Treasury, Mampho Modise, said government would be coming after unpaid e-tolls.
“Gauteng has agreed that around R6 billion in e-toll debt should and will be collected,” she said, referring specifically to the e-toll debt owed by motorists.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
