ANC seeks to staunch loss of votes over e-tolling

Gauteng premier David Makhura's surprise announcement that e-tolling would be reviewed is the result of behind-the-scenes talks with the ANC's national leadership.

And, said one political analyst, it was a bid to woo Gauteng's middle-class voters following the ANC's poor showing in the province in last month's elections.

The controversial system tops the issues that the party blames for its loss of urban votes in the province. Support for the ANC dropped to 53% this year from 65% in 2009, whereas support for the DA grew to 30% from 21%.

A member of the ANC provincial executive, which has not seen eye to eye with President Jacob Zuma, said Friday's announcement of a review panel was not an act of defiance against Luthuli House.

"There's been behind-the-scenes negotiations between province and national on the matter. When the election results were announced, it was decided then that this is an issue that we needed to look at," said the member.

The Gauteng election result was a wake-up call for the ANC, which bulldozed through the implementation of e-tolls despite strong opposition from its structures and from its labour federation alliance partner, Cosatu.

Strong public resistance to e-tolls, led by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa), has also frustrated the South African National Roads Agency's efforts to generate revenue to repay its R20-billion loan.

Makhura's announcement of a review has little to do with the internal ANC dynamics that resulted in Zuma removing Paul Mashatile, the party's provincial chairman, as arts and culture minister.

That decision was regarded as punishment for the province's refusal to nominate Nomvula Mokonyane as its candidate for premier.

Political analyst Steven Friedman said the ANC in Gauteng was trying to address the issues behind its election setback. "This is an attempt by the ANC to win back the middle-class voters it lost."

He said even though the provincial government had no powers to scrap e-tolling, the review might lead to a strong recommendation to the national government to do so.

E-tolling was implemented on Gauteng freeways on December 3, despite several court bids to block it.

Makhura, during his maiden state of the province address on Friday, said "the people's voice must be heard on all the issues".

"It's against this background that we shall also set up a panel to review the impact of e-tolls and invite new proposals on how we can find a lasting solution to this matter," said Makhura.

Political analyst Ralph Mathekga said the provincial ANC would not want e-tolling to become an issue for opposition parties to exploit in local government elections in 2016.

No details were released of who would serve on the review panel or how it would function, although Cosatu has indicated its willingness to participate.

Makhura's spokeswoman, Nino Zama, said it was premature to elaborate how the panel would work. "For now, we are doing something about the e-tolls," she said.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters told parliament two months ago that e-toll invoices worth R540-million had not been paid.

Outa welcomed the review, but cautioned motorists that it would not necessarily lead to the termination of the system.

"Makhura appears to have a clear understanding of the irrationality and high costs of the debacle," said Wayne Duvenage, the association's chairman.