Gauteng premier David Makhura has today received a report compiled by the e-tolls advisory panel, saying the provincial government will study it and announce its next step early in the new year.
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg, Makhura said local and national government would be consulted once the report has been studied, while its contents will be made public "once we have concluded our processes".
"We don't want to make any mistakes, so we will thoroughly study the panel's report and go through the issues raised," he added.
E-tolls have been met with strong public criticism since their inception a year ago and the panel set up by Makhura aimed to assess the socio-economic impact of the project.
The 15-member panel has, over the past few months, received input from different stakeholders and civil society organisations, including business, civil society, as well as national government and the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).
Satisfactory process
Panel chairperson professor Muxe Nkondo handed over the report as well as all submissions made during the review process. He said the panel was satisfied with proceedings throughout its review process.
"At the start, we were a bit anxious that things might erupt, but - for reasons that can be attributed to people's respect for our democracy - we were able to manage differences and contestations with the discipline and dignity that I think is commendable," said Nkondo.
Justice Project SA (JPSA) - one of the organisations that made submissions during the process - issued a message congratulating the panel for meeting its deadline to hand over the report to Makhura.
In a brief statement, the JPSA said: "We eagerly await the publication of the full report once the premier and the Gauteng Provincial Government have had a chance to review its contents, as do we await their recommendations to national government.
"Whatever is contained in that report, it is notable that since the e-tolls saga first commenced, this has been the first and only truly democratic process surrounding e-tolls; despite the assertions by Sanral that it had complied with the minimalistic legal obligations imposed on it in such processes".
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