OUTA celebrates anniversary and calls for support

This is according to OUTA's chairman, Wayne Duvenage, who said that the beginning of May 2013 marked a year since Judge Bill Prinsloo granted the temporary interdict which prevented SANRAL from implementing e-tolling on Gauteng's Freeways.

"That judgment was a victory for common sense and cost-effective government, but the case is far from over and must still be heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein later this year," Duvenage said. He added that the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) stood by its stance that e-tolling was a costly way to collect money needed for road building, especially when the almost cost-free alternative of the fuel levy and national taxation remained available. "Government will continue to claim that they alone have the right to decide on how to collect funds for roads, but a system that costs almost as much as the road itself just to collect the tolls is simply irrational and must be opposed," said Duvenage.

"As OUTA prepares to take the battle to the SCA, it's important to say that success will only be possible with the public's continued financial support," he explained, adding that OUTA has raised more than two-thirds of the R12 million needed to fund the legal and other administration costs.

Duvenage called on every Gauteng motorist to reflect on what they would have spent per month on e-tolls had OUTA not successfully halted the system a year ago. He asked motorists to donate a couple of month's saving to the fight against e-tolling. "It makes sense to donate a little now, to save a lifetime of paying," Duvenage suggested.

Donations can be made safely and easily by visiting OUTA's website. "Every Rand helps," said Duvenage. "As long as SANRAL and government continue to ignore the overwhelming public rejection of e-tolling, the OUTA court case remains the only option which can prevent a lifetime of financial hardship for many motorists," he added.