eToll Letter to Zuma

[Dave S]

Why are the taxi industries exempt from these tolls? Taxis, by definition, use the public roads and highways for their income, so surely they should be paying a higher toll? The only reason they are exempt is because they (taxi organisations [SA Mafia]) run the country and gobblemunt is very scared of them, if the taxis weren't exempted, the whole e-toll idea would never have been thought of in the first place.

The gobblemunt would argue that this is to allow the public majority to reach there destinations without further cost, so once again, the gobblemunt are expecting the minority to foot the bill. You gotta love Africa, where the minority pays for everything and the majority just take, take, take... No wonder our country is doomed to financial collapse.

[IanF]

I agree with public transport being exempt if one of the aims is to reduce congestion. But this whole thing looks like a scheme to set up a monopoly to fleece us.

[Dave S]

I hear you Ian, I don't believe it has anything to do with easing congestion, even though that was one of the selling points. No, it's about power, the power the gobblemunt has to do as they please to enrich their own pockets and we must pay for it.

[Dave S]

Here's a clip that puts it in perspective.



Wish I could draw like this guy...

[Dave A]

News just in - Unfortunately OUTA have lost their SCA appeal.

[IanF]

This is going to get interesting. I hope that there is a 80% non uptake for the tags as that is going to make paper and copier suppliers rich in Gauteng. Will the post office cope?

[Chrisjan B]

Let's hope the post office don't COPE....

[sterne.law@gmail.com]

An interesting question -
What is the basis, not legal technicalities and not "if they stop stealing our money " argument for people being opposed.
I asked because it would be interesting to see.

[CLIVE-TRIANGLE]

The Government Has Stolen The Roads From The People
URGENT NOTICE:
To Jacob Zuma and the Government of South Africa.

He doesn't read....

[Dave A]

An interesting question -
What is the basis, not legal technicalities and not "if they stop stealing our money " argument for people being opposed.

By my understanding, there are a few reasons to be aggrieved:
1. The roads were already there - they've just been widened or refurbished.
2. Toll roads weren't supposed to be introduced on freeways in urban areas.
3. Our fuel levy is supposed to be paying for the roads already.
4. There is supposed to be an alternative route for any toll road (OK - there are alternatives, but in this case for much of it they're through residential areas and already swamped)
5. The rate (per km) is significantly higher than on any other toll road.
6. Enforcement (collections) will be done outside of the judicial arm of government (I've probably put that badly, and I'm not sure if this has already been struck down as unconstitutional).
7. The recording and collection mechanism would seem vulnerable to problems (particularly false number plates on vehicles without etags).

The particular aspect I've been wondering about is how car hiring is going to work out in all this.
Fly to ORT (Jhb).
Wave credit card and hire a car.
Do business at CSIR Pretoria (as example).
Return car.
How are the toll fees going to be raised, billed, allocated and processed?