The e-toll issue can only be solved at a national level

The e-toll issue can only be solved at a national level - David Makhura

19 February 2019 8:09 AM

Gauteng Premier David Makhura delivered his last State of the Province Address (Sopa) on Monday in Ekhurhuleni.

He highlighted his successes during his premiership during the last five years.

Read: Makhura describes his tenure as a "towering monument of progress" #GautengSOPA

To discuss the Sopa, Makhura joins 702 Breakfast's Bongani Bingwa.

One of the big issues that loomed over Makhura's legacy and his administration is the Life Esidimeni tragedy and e-tolls.

I acknowledged that yesterday, I think the critical issue is what do you do as a leader when you are faced with such an issue? Do you dig your head in the sand and cover it up? Or do you face up to it and do the right thing which includes having appointed Justice Moseneke to do the arbitration process.
— David Makhura, Premier - Gauteng

A painstaking and painful process after which we were ordered to pay the affected families. We never tried to cover it, that is what you do when you are faced with a situation like this as a leader.
— David Makhura, Premier - Gauteng

He adds that his administration is currently busy with issues pertaining to the criminal justice system.

Makhura says that a special investigation unit is working on charges to hold those responsible for the Life Esidimeni tragedy.

The special investigation unite is hard at work, it has been ordered by the President to complete all investigations into the Life Esidimeni tragedy and we are waiting for the Hawks who are also busy with their investigation and I am very confident and I am very confident especially with the new NPA head.
— David Makhura, Premier - Gauteng

Makhura notes that urban tolling is not sustainable.

There is no more dispute, you cannot toll an urban system and the e-toll issue like Eskom, and President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured me that one of the issues on his national agenda is the e-toll issue and it can only be solved at a national level.
— David Makhura, Premier - Gauteng

Anyone who comes to Gauteng as mayor or as premier and says he can make a final decision on e-tolls is lying to the people of Gauteng.
— David Makhura, Premier - Gauteng

He says despite all the hardships that the country and province has gone through in the past five years, the economy has created more than 469 000 jobs.

These jobs were created in the midst of a difficult national and global situation where lots of jobs were shed and significant problems around policy.
— David Makhura, Premier - Gauteng

Listen below to the full interview:

Written by: Matshepo Sehloho