[LISTEN] Nzimande: We made a mistake with e-tolls

“If we had to start afresh today, we would do it very differently,” said Nzimande during the second day of trade union federation Cosatu’s national congress.

He addressed scores of delegates, admitting that the electronic toll system in its current form has failed.

“The SACP’s position is simple; it is that the model of e-tolls that was followed was wrong.”

Several institutions, including the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) have criticised the system, dubbing it irrational and unreasonable.

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Gauteng Premier David Makhura has previously said President Cyril Ramaphosa has been roped in to address the thorny issue.

The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng said after its provincial conference in July that the system must be terminated as soon as a mechanism can be found.

Nzimande, who is also Minister of Transport, raised concerns over the funding and maintenance of roads should e-tolls be scrapped.

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“As a minister, I am willing to engage with Cosatu the moment we finish this congress on this question; how do we fund our public road networks? Do you raise the fuel levy, do you take the money from the fiscus? Do you use what we call user-pay?,” asked Nzimande.