Earlier this week, civic organisation Outa warned that government might take advantage of an expected petrol price drop to fix a few mistakes. Specifically, it would add a little extra to the general fuel levy to fund Johannesburg’s e-tolls. Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has poured cold water on the organisation’s worries.

For whom the bell e-tolls

Outa head Wayne Duvenage expressed concern that South Africa’s government would bump fuel levies by up to 30c per litre in order to fund e-tolls. The SANRAL-operated project has faced severe opposition from the public since the scheme rolled out.

Transport minister Mbalula previously said that the government’s plans for the fate of e-tolls would turn up in October. This is the same time finance minister Enoch Gondongwana’s medium-term policy statement is expected. If government was going to announce a fuel levy increase, this is where it would happen. Mbalula has said that there’s no sign that this is about to take place.

“There is no reason to be alarmist on possible pronouncements on the government’s decision on the funding of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. I urge everyone to await the formal pronouncements and not engage in speculation that offers no solution to our challenges,” he said.

If you’re paying attention, it’s not a complete denial that e-tolls will be funded by a permanent petrol price increase. But it suggests that maybe folks are getting a little overexcited.

Source: BusinessTech