Bullied into e-tolls, we will not forget who fought dirty

I am not surprised that the much-maligned e-tolling system has won the day. The government has won this round. Bullies always win. Momentarily. They win because they employ their might, in a fight that is never fair. E-tolls will stay.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was given the unenviable task of informing a wary citizenry that it will pay for a system that was imposed on it.

He announced a reduced tariff for all motorists, regardless of whether they have an e-tag or not. He also announced that if a motorist is an infrequent user and goes past fewer than 30 gantries a year, there will be no charge. All motorists will get a 60% discount if outstanding e-toll bills are settled within the next six months.

That should be good news, right? But, unfortunately for our government, the bumpy journey to our present moment is still fresh in our memories.

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The protracted battle over e-tolls in Gauteng never had a vestige of fairness, from the very beginning. First it was the lie that even the media, to a large extent, fell for. In preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and to counter negative international media coverage, the media reported that the Gauteng freeway improvement project would be a fitting legacy of the tournament.

But the powers-that-be forgot to mention that motorists in the province would pay later. The public was told that a viable public transport system was on the cards and this would give them the latitude to make cost-effective choices. There was also a promise of alternative routes for those who did not wish to be tolled. We are still waiting for all of the above.

At the time of the decision to toll, then-transport minister Jeff Radebe was presented with a figure of R395-million as an estimate for the revenue collection process. According to Outa, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance, the tender was, in the end, awarded at R1.7-billion. The discrepancy is colossal.

Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, in a rare fit of pique, told us that it was not fair for the entire country to pay for Gauteng's luxuries. Viable public roads are not a luxury and Gauteng contributes to the wealth, not just of South Africa, but the region.

He told us that the National Treasury was contributing R5.8-billion to finance the R20-billion debt incurred from the project. But he did not mention that Gauteng motorists also contributed to the R5.8-billion, through the fuel levy and other taxes.

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There is also the lack of transparency that has plagued this saga for years. Questions remain about the business model and the beneficiaries of the lucrative e-toll deals.

The collusion by construction companies is also a sore point. They scored big and paid a minimum fine, which pales in comparison to the substantial profits they made through inflated pricing and anti-competitive behaviour. Who must make up the money that was lost?

The government has won by browbeating citizens and enforcing something that is blatantly wrong. But this victory is hollow.

Motorists are not cash cows and the idea that only the rich will be affected is a blatant lie. Workers will suffer. Small businesses will also bear the brunt.

The e-toll issue has united South Africans across racial and class lines. Many are defiant. They will not pay. Even the threat of withholding car licences because of outstanding e-toll payments does not seem to deter them.

As one caller to my radio show avowed: "This is Mzansi. Corruption will help us beat the system."