Rethink e-tolls, says ANC Gauteng

| 16 May, 2016 06:58

File photo.
Image by: SIMON MATHEBULA

The ANC Gauteng provincial general council has called for a rethink on e-tolls at its three-day meeting in Irene that ended yesterday.

ANC Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile said the council had mandated the provincial leadership to engage with national leadership to continue looking into the negative impact of e-tolls, "including the issue of affordability".

''In our last conference we said the e-tolls in their current form are unacceptable."

On Friday, Mashatile told President Jacob Zuma, who was at the meeting, "we appreciate your being here" .

"Your attendance is also important because when we in Gauteng pronounce on some issues, we are wrongly perceived as being 'anti-Zuma'," Mashatile said.

"Our strength in Gauteng is that we always discuss matters in a frank and open manner. We have no hidden agendas in Gauteng!"

Gauteng has been critical of Zuma following the Constitutional Court finding he had violated his oath of office. Mashatile commended the Provincial Executive Committee for the manner in which it had handled the Nkandla matter.

"The committee accepted the apology of the president but went further to say the president must reflect on this matter and do the right thing.

"However, the committee has also allowed branches to discuss this matter and express their own views.

"During the course of this council, delegates will have an opportunity once more to express their views so that we can bring this matter to finality, once and for all. This will also ensure that our members do not rely on what is said in the media."

Mashatile said they were more than ready to take over Gauteng come the local government elections on August 3. The ANC in Gauteng will launch its manifesto on June 3 at FNB Stadium.

Mashatile said the onus would be on the leadership in the local structures to ensure that the launch is successful.

Mashatile did not hold back, saying he would not settle for anything less than a victory at all municipalities, including Midvaal - which is being run by the DA.