Business Day
*DA jumps to Outa's aid with R1m donation*** * * *Colleen Goko, Business Day, Johannesburg, 7 June 2013*IN A move that raised eyebrows on Friday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it would contribute R1m to the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) to help it fund its court battle against e-tolls on Gauteng's freeways.
Outa made a public appeal last month for funding for its forthcoming action in the Supreme Court of Appeal, expected in September, against a high court dismissal of its application to have e-tolling scrapped.
This week, chairman Wayne Duvenage said he believed Outa could win its case in the appeal court, but if it did not raise the attorneys' fees it may need to abandon its case against the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).
The DA said in a statement on Friday that it was committed to fighting e-tolls on major urban freeways.
"We have fought the e-toll bill (formally and deceptively known as the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill) in Parliament, winning several major victories in delaying the implementation of urban e-tolls and exposing the government for its cruel disregard for poor South Africans," the DA said.
"The DA fully supports Outa's efforts to stop e-tolls, and we believe they have a strong legal case. The DA will do everything it can to mobilise all South Africans especially those in Gauteng, against this form of e-tolling."
Mr Duvenage said on Friday that questions had been raised in some quarters about whether it was correct for the alliance to accept money from a political organisation.
"We can't turn down funding when we have put out a plea to society," he said. "Who are we to say no when we are R3m in debt? When we have our backs against the wall? We will accept money from anyone, even the ANC.
"But equally we are also moved by the 800 people who in the past 31 hours have donated just about R500,000. That means as much as the R1m donated by the DA."
Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said on Wednesday that the legality of the tolls had been settled at the Constitutional Court in 2012 when it lifted an interim interdict preventing Sanral from implementing e-tolling in Gauteng.
As soon as President Jacob Zuma signed the amendment bill, the agency could legally start e-tolling, Mr Mona said.
He also said Outa had politicised the issue and was using the wrong platform to challenge Sanral.
"Outa has said its main issue is not whether we should not pay for the roads, but rather about the method of collection. This was a policy decision taken by the executive. If Outa has a problem with this, it must contest government at the polls," he said.
With Phetane Rapetswane*From: http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/2013/06/07/da-jumps-to-outas-aid-with-r1m-donation*
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