30 September 2024
uMkhonto weSizwe Party has noted the announcement today by Gauteng’s MEC for
Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, on the payment of over R3
billion to SANRAL for the e-tolls debt. The MK Party has further noted comments by
OUTA in response to the announcement. The MK Party is not in support of the current
process unfolding between the National Government, represented by the
Department of Transport, National Treasury and the Gauteng Provincial Government
in respect of the e-tolls debt. The plan being followed, if there’s any, does not inspire
confidence. The decision to scrap e-tolls was clearly not well thought out but made
in a hasty manner by the Government pushed by the car lobby and vested interests
in this matter.
The South African public has been misled into believing the scrapping of e-tolls would
remove the burden from the taxpayer. The reality is that there is a moving of chairs
without any real change and without addressing the real concerns of citizens. The
truth is E-tolls had not been scrapped in real terms but are continuing in a different
form. The status quo remains and the South African taxpayer is paying, whatever
structure is being adopted.
OUTA is making noise, positioning itself as the true fighter for citizens. A careful
analysis of the issues and challenges shows OUTA is not fighting for the ordinary
woman and man on the street. In all its noise, OUTA has not challenged the pervasive
structure of the economy and the distortions which define the transport system in
Gauteng. OUTA is part of the “car lobby” which champions the interests of vehicle
manufacturers and private car users. OUTA is silent on the fact that scrapping of etolls without, at the same time, reviewing the Gautrain financial arrangements will
not be in the public interest. We need meaningful change and not noise which
pretends to be fighting for citizens whilst in real terms protects vested interests.
As the MK Party, we have also observed that OUTA is given so much “free airtime”
by the SABC to the exclusion of other critical voices, many of which truly represent
the people on the ground. Political parties, taxi bodies, and commuter organisations
are not given the opportunity to put their positions across. OUTA is given all the time
in this world, which we reject as the MK Party..
The position of the MK Party is clear in the People’s Manifesto; our starting point is
that the government should invest huge resources to create a modern public
transport system. We recognise that the majority of citizens across the length and
breadth of our country, including in Gauteng, do not have access to a car. Many
depend largely on public transport, yet not much is being said about creating quality,
safe, reliable, and integrated public transport for all.
Massive public resources are being invested to subsidize private-car users and the
rich whilst millions who are denied access to sustainable livelihoods because of poor
decisions by a government influenced by its biggest beneficiary, the largely
transformed white private sector.
The e-toll issue had long been used as a distraction. The latest payments by the
Gauteng provincial government are a clear indication that in this age of budget cuts,
much-needed resources in health, education, housing, public transport, water and
sanitation, and others, will be shifted from service-delivery to service the e-toll debt.
As the MK party, we are opposed to this.
The ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa has lost its conscience and no longer cares about the
black masses and continues on a downward spiral. The MK Party remains the only
hope to remove our people from abject poverty and to improve their living
conditions.
ENQUIRIES:
Nhlamulo Ndhlela
Head: Media and Communications
Contact mobile: 079 230 3345
Sipho Tyira
Manager: Media and Communications (Parliament)
Contact Mobile: 084 374 4316
