No refunds for e-tolls, says MEC

DEBT: PROVINCE PAYS FIRST R3BN OF WHOPPING R12.9BN

- Thando Nondywana & Jarryd Westerdale

'Gauteng funded it at a national level using provincial money.'

While Gauteng MEC of finance Lebogang Maile has committed the provincial government to paying its first R3 billion of the R12.9 billion it owes in historical e-toll debt, he has assured Gauteng residents that service delivery won’t be affected, despite the province’s financial challenges.

But no provision has been made to reimburse those who did pay their e-toll accounts. “When people were paying for e-tolls, remember it was legal, it was not illegal,” said Maile.

“They were paying because they were utilising the service, so they will not be paid back because that money was not collected illegally by the government,” the MEC said.

Maile said the provincial government had made the fi rst step to servicing the R12.9 billion debt.