E-tolling is the people's enemy

What comes to mind on the topic of e-tolling is an evident shortage of balanced views. Perhaps that speaks to how divisive an issue e-tolling has become not only to Gauteng residents but to the country as a whole. It is clear that on this matter people come from different social and class realities that inform their respective views.But was it not in dispute is that congregation on our highways is a reality, and unless addressed properly, Gauteng will come to a standstill in a few short years. It is also indisputable that less congestion in highways means less fuel consumption and fewer green house gas emissions.

However, the pertinent question is whether e-tolling is the solution to the problem. I think not. Firstly, are politicians, the very people behind taxing us for using Gauteng highways, prepared to pay a cent from their own pockets for using the same roads as the rest of us?Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane was quick to register her official car for e-tag. It is not the taxpayers that will foot politicians' travel bill? How greedy and how self serving are they?

Picture: Itumeleng English

It is not disconcerting that politicians already earn hefty salaries, yet some cant resist stealing from the public purse to pay what they claim to be fair and reasonable e-toll tariffs?

This is too controversial and provide enough reasons to shelve the e-tolling idea. To suggest this project will go ahead against our will is asking for trouble. On this issue, i support Cosatu 100%. There are many things that we are not happy with as far as the government's performance is concerned.

What the government needs to do is role out Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) across all townships, invest in a viable public transport system equivalent  to those of the European cities on which Gauteng e-toll are modelled and invest in building and renovating alternative roads to the freeways. Zwelinzima Vavi is not the enemy, e-tolling is the enemy.

SCA decision making dissapointed the ANC and Cosatu

The ANC and Cosatu has voiced its dissappointment at the supreme court of appeal (SCA) ruling the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to produce the record of its 2009 decision to drop or suspend criminal charges against our ANC president, Jacob Zuma. Earlier, "the judgement held that the NPA must make available requested record of decisions it used when then acting National director of charges against Jacob Zuma, She (helen Zille) told reporters at the parliament.

According to the court, they ruled that the record to be handed over should exclude written representations made on behalf of our president, Jacob Zuma, and any productions that would breach confidentiality agreements. According to what it is noted in the Citizen, the SCA judgement affirmed that the decision to discontinue a prosecution can be reviewable by the court, and that the DA, as a political party, has a legal  standing to bring such a review application.

Responding to a question on how Helen Zille thought the matter would now move forward, she suggested that "the longest route of delay would be followed" by Zuma and his legal team. And she mentioned that corruption charges had "hang over" Zuma long before he was elected as our president for the ANC". I agree with what Helen Zille said because South Africans have the right to know what the defence is to those allegations, and whether there is a substance in them or not- after all, he is still the president of our country.

"it is now clear that democracy can be undermined by simply approaching court to reverse any decision arrived at by a qualified organ of state". Earlier  this month, the court ordered the NPA to "produce and lodge" the record of the decision with the registrar of the court within 14 days and the DA was the first appellant in the case.

An apology atlast to ANC leaders

The suspended ANC youth league leader Julius Malema apologised to leaders of the ANC on the talk show (Asikhulume) on sunday night (11/03/2012). According to articles that were written and/or published by media 24 and The NEW AGE, the embattled ANC youth league leader Julius Malema pleaded to the ruling party not to expel him after making a rare public apology for critising them as to moderate in their policies. He said he had done nothing wrong by calling for nationalisation of mines and the seizure of white owned land. He ( Malema) thought that he was making a  contribution  through  strengthening the movement as required by the constitution of the ANC youth league to support the movement.

During the interview with Vuyo Mvoko, he asked to be allowed to stay as the ANC member, saying being a member was "His life" and that he had joined the movement  at an early age (9 years) during the anti apartheid. He pleaded to the movement to leave him with his ANC membership card because the imagination of being outside is scary for him and he don't have anything except ANC.


Our president made a good thing to expel Malema permanently today and we hope to see change as time goes by. Lets support our  movement and be patiently towards them as change will be made and everything will go back to their roots. Malema caused many troubles for the movement, thinking that there is no one who can tell him what not to do and that he is above the law. I salute you Mr president for what you did and hope others will learn from what you did to our former ANC youth league president.

The end of Malema

Not long ago, Julius Malema was the golden boy of South Afica but now everything had turned sourly and bitterly to the ANC's youth league former president .The ANC's youth league supporters urinated on Julias Malema T-shirt and set it alight. The majority supporters describe Malema as a repeat offender who failed to show remorse or respect the desciplinary structures of the organisation after causing trouble for the ANC's.

Malema propagated racism and political intolerence for his utternances, influencing his supporters to treat the whites as criminals for stealing land from blacks. He immensely enriched himself by using his position in the ANC youth league to divert attention for himself through claiming the existence of"Dark forces" against the ANC.

He has been defiant all through the disciplinary hearing and scored a hallowed victory by being allowed to argue in the mitigation of the sentence against his five year suspension.

If Malema continued to be protected and being defended by the ANC and retains his position, there will be written walls in this country. Everyone can see that Malema is stirring troubles on behalf of others.