Sunday, October 5, 2014

NEWS: ANC in Gauteng to oppose e-tolls

Pretoria - The ANC in Gauteng on Sunday resolved to oppose e-tolls in the province.
Secretary Hope Papo read a declaration at the three-day elective conference.

“The current system is too expensive, traffic flows have been negatively affected. We would rather have a fuel levy,” said Papo to applause from hundreds of delegates.

He said the party provincial structure would seek to make submissions to a review panel established by Gauteng Premier David Makhura to probe the socio-economic impact of the e-tolls.

President Jacob Zuma did not address an ANC Gauteng elective conference in Pretoria as scheduled on Sunday.

A programme of the three-day summit, issued on Friday by the provincial structure, indicated that Zuma would address delegates on Sunday.

In Zuma's place, African National Congress deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte gave a brief speech.

Former arts and culture minister Paul Mashatile was re-elected chairman of the province, while premier David Makhura was elected deputy chairman.

Mashatile was booted out of Cabinet when President Zuma announced a reshuffle in May.

He was replaced by Nathi Mthethwa who was moved from the police ministry.

The outspoken former Gauteng premier has maintained a hardline stance on e-tolling in the province.
At the conference on Friday, he told delegates that government agencies like the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) did not run the country.

“It's not that I don't like Sanral, but they must know their place. Government agencies don't run the country, but the ANC does. I don't like government agencies that take on politicians,” Mashatile said to applause and whistling.

“They must go and be elected first. We appoint officials to implement the policies of the ANC. Sanral cannot tell us what to do. We tell them what to do.”

Earlier, party spokesman Zizi Kodwa said Zuma could not speak at the conference because he had another function to attend.

“Other people had pre-arranged programmes which unfortunately could not be changed... He (Zuma) was hoping (to) finish on time today, but the programme is keeping him long.”

He explained that Zuma had to attend an education trust function in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, despite being scheduled to deliver closing remarks at the ANC conference at 1pm.

(SAPA)


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