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DENOSA concerned with ‘New e-Tolls Dispensation’
Media statement
Friday, 22 May 2015
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) is deeply concerned with possible negative implications the announcement by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa of the new e-Tolls Dispensation will have on mobility of South Africans, health workers included, despite paying tax which goes towards building and maintenance of the country’s roads.
Among others, Deputy President announced on Wednesday that those with outstanding debt from e-tolls won’t be allowed to renew their vehicle licences as the SANRAL system will be linked to the national licencing system. DENOSA finds this trouble-some and a bit mischievous as people are paying their dues to use the country’s roads.
DENOSA has a congress resolution to continue to support COSATU campaign against e-Tolls, as it is a regrettable idea that privatizes the country’s roads. In our eyes, the new e-tolls dispensation introduces no difference, and we continue to call for its total ban.
Nurses, who are essential service workers and whose salary is not even enough to fund their day-to-day living expenses, don’t have money to splash on e-Tolls and will be among those hard-hit by this new dispensation. In fact most of nurses will have to be expected to arrive late at work as soon as their vehicle licences expire because they will have to rely on public transport.
The outcomes of the general elections in May 2014 speak volumes about the feeling of the people of Gauteng about e-Tolls: the ruling party lost support, arguably, partly as a result of this idea. We would like to warn that continuing to force e-Tolls down the throats of people of Gauteng is likely to have far worse consequences for the governing party in the upcoming local government elections.
End
Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)
For more information, contact:
Simon Hlungwani, DENOSA President
Mobile: 079 501 4922
Or
Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager
Mobile: 079 875 2663
Tel: 012 343 2315
Email: sibongisenid@denosa.org.za
Website: www.denosa.org.za
Facebook: DENOSA National Page
Twitter: @DENOSAORG
