E-toll critics are calling on Gauteng premier David Makhura to release the report compiled by the e-toll advisory panel as soon as possible, as purported leaks and speculation around the findings and recommendations in the report have gathered momentum in the past few weeks.
Anonymous government sources have recently been quoted by several publications, commenting on various aspects of the report - from when it will be released, to the fact that the panel has rejected the use of a ring-fenced fuel levy as an alternative to the user-pay principle.
Makhura appointed the panel in July last year to assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolling on the Gauteng province. During the next few months, the panel received input from different stakeholders and organisations, including business, civil society, as well as national government and the South African National Roads Agency.
Panel chairperson professor Muxe Nkondo handed the panel's findings and recommendations - as well as all submissions made during the review process - to Makhura at the end of November. Makhura said local and national government would be consulted once the report has been studied, while its contents would be made public "once we have concluded our processes".
At the time, most observers said they believed the report would be released to the public in January, but it is now unclear whether this will happen. The Sunday Times yesterday quoted Gauteng government spokesman Thabo Masebe as saying Makhura plans to release the report of the panel "in the next four weeks or so".
Initially, reactions were mixed to Makhura's decision to withhold the report from public scrutiny while government studies its recommendations. However, e-toll critics now seem united in their call for Makhura to fast-track the process and release the findings.
End conjecture
Justice Project SA chairperson Howard Dembovsky says he is writing to Makhura to urge him to put an end to speculation around the report and its recommendations. "It's time to publish the report and put an end to agendas," says Dembovsky, who initially called for patience and that Makhura be given time to study the report.
However, he says enough time has passed since the premier received the report, and "people are now preying on the situation".
"There are now all sorts of leaks, speculation and conjecture. People simply need to know, so Makhura needs to release it now," Dembovsky explains.
The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) is similarly calling on Makhura to release the panel's report now. The organisation was initially disappointed that Makhura did not immediately make the report public, saying it should have been done last year so the public could also study the findings.
Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage says it is difficult to comment on the various leaks surrounding the document. "The premier needs to stop the conjecture and speculation, as it is doing more damage than anything else at this stage."
Duvenage says the premier should take note of all the different angles and information that are coming out of the leaks, via anonymous "spokespeople", and take immediate action.
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