Zuma’s e-toll decision: Strategic or stupid?

On the day when the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) took its fight against the system to the Supreme Court of Appeal, Zuma surprised all by putting his mighty pen on the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill.

The legislation provides for the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to collect e-tolls on Gauteng highways.

Speculation had been rife that Zuma would possibly not sign the legislation before the general election in 2014 as opposition parties, including his nemesis the DA, could use this against the ANC leading up to the polls.

His tripartite allies in the Congress of South African Trade Unions have vowed to do whatever it takes to stop e-tolls. A shocked leadership of the labour union federation in Gauteng said it would consult with the national leadership on what action to take.

The DA described the signing as premature and disrespectful of the judicial process, since it happened on the day the Outa case was being heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal, and could have waited for the judgement on the matter.

Equally surprised was chairperson of Outa Wayne Duvenage, who said the Presidency had promised to take some time to consider related questions before signing the bill into law.

So, Zuma has spoken: e-tolling is here and there is not much anyone can do. The North Gauteng High Court and Constitutional Court have both previously ruled in favour of government, and cannot be trusted to come to a different decision now.

They better jack-up government administration in order to cope with prosecuting all e-toll rebels, as civil disobedience is the only way left for motorists.

Zuma as well his lapdogs at Sanral, the transport department, and Gauteng provincial government should be smiling for another job ‘well done’.

The ANC must owe the foreign companies involved in e-tolling big time for them to turn against the people who put them into power. But every dog has his day.