The SA government has learnt a valuable and difficult lesson from the Gauteng e-tolls debacle. On Wednesday, finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced e-tolls will be scrapped.
The national government will cover the more than R27bn required to clear 70% of the SA National Roads Agency's debt, while the provincial government will cover the remainder. Godongwana’s announcement comes more than a decade too late.
It has taken 15 years for government to admit it made a huge mistake on e-tolls, after making the initial announcement in October 2007 and providing only one month for public participation. The public comment process was more flawed in that it did not reach citizens of provinces outside Gauteng who would also be called on to pay e-tolls when driving on Gauteng roads.
That it took more than a decade of complaints, protests, the formation of the Organisation Against Tax Abuse and private citizens refusing to pay for an unjust system is an indictment of the ANC-led national and provincial governments. Within the governing party, the messaging on e-tolls has been inconsistent and confusing, with former premier David Makhura often saying e-tolls need to be scrapped but no plans coming to the fore.
Now new Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has hailed the change as his first victory, tweeting: “We heard you, people of Gauteng. As per the announcement by minister Godongwana we have agreed to the formulation of a new revenue enhancement model which excludes tolling. We are now ready to start a new life without e-tolls. This was not an easy decision but necessary.”
More than a victory for his brand-new administration, it is a victory for taxpayers who have repeatedly demanded proper accountability on how their tax money is used.
Government officials and politicians have got into a habit of using public funds with impunity. One only needs to consult the auditor-general’s reports and recent news headlines to see there is scant regard for the source of government funds in spending.
South Africans who work hard to have the money to pay taxes should never be treated as an endless piggy bank from which government can extract funds without consultation. While South Africans accept services must be paid for, we also rightly demand a voice in how projects are funded and whether the process is cost-effective and fair. This demand is backed by law and the constitution.
When the ANC government reflects on the e-tolls saga, it should not only pat itself on the back for finally listening to citizens but recall the strong message citizens have sent about what they are willing to accept. We are not willing to accept decrees as if we are living in an autocratic state. The ANC’s mandate to govern came directly from citizens and can be amended and removed by the same voters it has tried to force to pay e-tolls. We, the people, will not be bullied.
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