KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has called on national government to waiver toll fees on major transport routes, including the N2 economic corridor, to cushion the financial burden on citizens.
This comes as most roads in the province have been severely damaged or washed away by recent floods.
Zikalala said road users were finding it unaffordable to pay toll fees to use the only alternative route, which is the N2 at uThongathi Toll Plaza and Umvoti Toll Plaza.
He was speaking during a provincial Day of Prayer at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Thursday.
Zikalala joined interfaith religious leaders in prayer and led the candle-lighting ceremony in memory of all victims who lost their lives in the floods, and to show solidarity with the affected families.
The public transport industry operating in these areas, which services the travel needs of a large number of residents from numerous communities, is under pressure to bear the excessive costs of toll fees in addition to facing longer trips.
“These costs are bound to be passed on to commuters through higher taxi fares. The trucking industry is also facing added demands as a result of post-disaster recovery efforts throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
“The absence of non-levied routes presents a threat to the industry’s dwindling profit margins and poor turnaround times due to excessive traffic and resultant delays.”
Zikalala said all 10 districts, including the eThekwini Metro, had been affected, and the worst-affected municipalities were eThekwini, Ugu, King Cetshwayo, ILembe, and uMgungundlovu.
KwaZulu-Natal currently has 52 shelters that are providing temporary shelter to the victims of the disaster in most of the affected municipalities.
He also issued a stern warning to anyone attempting to profit from a disaster that has claimed lives and left families devastated, adding that the Auditor-General’s office would work closely with departments to keep a close eye on the utilisation of the resources.
The National Prosecuting Authority, SA Revenue Service, the Hawks and Special Investigating Unit were ready to investigate and prosecute the crime of corruption, he added.
– SAnews.gov.za
