ETC brands e-toll march ‘irresponsible’

Electronic Toll Collections (ETC) says the removal of the e-toll system will only bring more harm to the country’s poor.

The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng led a march to the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Friday to demand an end to the unpopular user-pay system.

Electronic Tolling Collections is the company contracted to collect e-tolls.

Gauteng motorists continue to default on payments of the tolls, which has led to an outstanding debt of almost R11 billion.

The company’s CEO Coenie Vermaak says the march is irresponsible since ignoring the debt will only make it larger.

"The longer we procrastinate and not deal with the issue the bigger the bill become and in the end our citizens will suffer because they will pay more for it.”

Vermaak says the parties should rather engage in a constructive conversation to find a middle ground.

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"ETC argues that e-tolls are, in fact, pro-poor since they are reserved for wealthier South Africans who can afford to drive private motor vehicles. Public buses and taxis meanwhile, are exempt from paying e-tolls."

He believes the suggestion by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) to pay for the roads through a fuel levy will hit the poor the hardest.

"While COSATU rejects e-tolling in its current form, ETC says they do not offer a workable alternative. The company argues that Outa's suggestion to use an additional fuel levy is illogical, stating that the already high price of fuel in the country impacts the very people the congress represents, countrywide," Vermaak says

Vermaak says the company is willing to engage Cosatu on the issue.