The Democratic Alliance (DA) launched a drive on October 8, to give business owners in Gauteng a voice against e-tolls.<\/p>\n
“Owners of small, medium and large enterprises in Gauteng are encouraged to send us breakdowns of their e-toll bills as part of phase one,” said the DA Shadow Minister of Small Business Development Toby Chance MP.<\/p>
All information gathered in this drive will be compiled into a report on the impact of e-tolling on businesses in the province.<\/p>\n
The DA will use this report to continue the fight against e-tolls on behalf of businesses and all residents of Gauteng.<\/p>
“The cost of e-tolls to businesses and their ability to create jobs should be the single biggest reason for us all to fight this unjust system,” explained Chance.<\/p>\n
“The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has let people down in the past by allowing e-tolling to be rolled out in the first place.<\/p>\n
“Now the same ANC is making promises to ‘stick with the people of Gauteng’, in our overwhelming opposition to e-tolling.<\/p>\n
“Now is the time for the people of Gauteng to make sure Premier David Makhura and others keep their promise; we must not stop putting pressure on these politicians until e-tolling is brought to an end, once and for all.<\/p>\n
”By participating in this drive, business owners will strengthen the campaign against e-tolling in Parliament, the Gauteng Legislature and on the ground.<\/p>\n
“There can be no doubt that e-tolling is squeezing the life out of the province’s economy.”<\/p>\n
These days, owners of trading businesses in Orange Farm must make a return trip through five gantries to fetch stock in Johannesburg, costing them hundreds of rand a month.<\/p>\n
“There is also the example of a large corporate, Shoprite, that had already run up a R4-million e-toll bill within the first four months of the system,” added Chance.<\/p>\n
“Tough times for business mean less jobs and higher prices for all of us.”<\/p>\n
In the coming weeks, the DA’s drive to reach business owners will include personal visits, bulk emails and social media.<\/p>\n
Owners of small, medium and large enterprises can send breakdowns of their e-tolling costs to leader@da.org.za, or contact their local DA representatives for assistance.<\/p>\n