Plans by Sanral to file civil damages claims against construction companies it alleges grossly overcharged for servicing our highways should be welcomed. Any action taken against those who allegedly milk the system will deter others from attempting to loot public funds.The residents of Gauteng are still fighting to have the e-tolling system scrapped.Sanral' s decision to go after those who allegedly colluded on contracts, rather than taxpayers, is a step in the right direction.It is rumoured that the construction companies' greed led to the costs of the e-tolls project rapidly escalating.Sanral's decision follows an investigation two years ago by the Competition Commission into the 2010 World Cup soccer stadium contracts and the work done on our highways.At the time, the Competition Commission fined 15 construction companies about R1.46-billion.While Sanral has yet to reveal the amount it will claim in damages, the lawsuit can only be to our benefit.This is the type of court case our taxes should be spent on - cases that aim to slam the brakes on corruption.And there is nothing stopping civil society from taking on a parastatal, the government or big conglomerates.Such cases should not just be the duty of a small band of NGOs and the like.We must as citizens be prepared to take a stand for our rights or those rights will fall away.Imagine the change to our society if members of the public regularly opened civil cases against officials suspected of corruption.No one, including the head of state, can afford the bad publicity of being taken to court by his or her own people.It is high time that we involved ourselves in matters that have a direct impact on us.Be part of the changes you want to see in South Africa...