Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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E-tolls go live on 3 December 2013. I know a lot of people are going to say that one should not register, not buy one’s e-tolls, pay for one’s e-toll registration or take part in the process. People seem to believe that if they don’t take part, the whole system will crumble. I don’t like the whole e-toll process, but I don’t believe that e-tolls are worthy of a civil disobedience campaign. That applied to apartheid, but it certainly does not apply, to my mind, to e-tolls.
Court challenges have been brought and lost and essentially at the end of the day the government voted in by the majority of the people have decided that this is what will be implemented and nothing is going to stop it. Civil disobedience or ignoring the process is only going to lead to people being arrested, getting fines and ultimately to a huge late stampede for registration. There are many things in life that we don’t like, but we have to follow some of them and this is going to be one of those.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Monday 02-Dec-13
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Comments
Brenda said:
on Wednesday 11-Dec-13 01:59 PM
I agree with this blog, and yes, some may call me a traitor but what people think or say about me in that regard is of little concern to me.
I have been unable in the last two weeks to obtain my e-tag, but i will be getting mine very soon. Luckily i have not been driving and also don't really drive through any of the gantries, so it will not present a problem to me as yet.
But at the end of the day, as much as we do not like the fact that we will be paying e-toll i like to obey the rules, and unfortunately this is something that the government has implemented which is compulsory for every driver and I will comply. Only good can come from doing what is right.
Don't be rebellious towards this, as frustrated as you are, at the end of the day you will end up getting one anyway, so save yourself the fuss and just get one.
Melissa said:
on Monday 09-Dec-13 12:02 PM
Paying Tax on tax, when will this stop? As it is, we are paying the highest tax on fuel and now we still need to pay e-toll as well, what tax will we be paying next.
Cindy said:
on Thursday 05-Dec-13 02:19 PM
I do not like this e-toll thing at all!! Everything is just going up so that our wonderful president can build a nice house for him and his whole family!
Alexis said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 04:56 PM
People will get used to it and then abide by doing what needs to be done and getting the stupid thing. I do not agree with E-Toll at all and really am so tired of this country trying to bleed you dry from the little you have as it is
Ashleigh said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 02:21 PM
I agree with David on the E-Tag. I didn't agree with it from the start and will not now. Its not fair how much people are giving up on their salaries as is when it comes to being taxed and now we must pay more. How is it that they expect people to live when adding things to their budget all the time.
Sheena said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 02:05 PM
I agree with David. If everyone just agrees with everything what will be next...?
Thabitha said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:59 PM
Our government is corrupt everyone is so selfish
Jessica said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:49 PM
I agree totally with David, STAND against it they will soon realize that they actually paying more trying to get people to pay the tolls than actually making the money they want. It is such a stupid system and we all need to vote DA as they promised to get rid of the E-toll's. I won't ever get it because I already pay tax so that they can waste my money on their homes and private events.
Sinead said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:44 PM
We pay enough tax!!! We have already paid to use the roads, why do we need to pay again???
Petrol is not only increasing this month, but next month as well... Food is also going up next month...
Zelda said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:37 PM
I agree with Bianca, easier to buy the tag and just do what you must, rather than not doing what the government tells you and then having more drama and then you are forced to buy it in the end so all the fighting was for nothing...
Sally said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:37 PM
I will not be buying an e-tag, I am not going to pay twice for road maintenance if the government does not know how to use my contribution wisely
lucretia said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:34 PM
People need to remember that by not registering, they are NOT committing an offence, they are simply choosing to pay the full amount. I am NOT saying dont pay, but you dont need to register to abide by the law. This system has not worked in 1st world countries, where is it going to work in developing countries?
Cornelie said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:19 PM
I think they must just give a person more time to pay it is difficult as it is without e-toll to put bread and butter on your table now to dock up more money monthly is a bit heavy on a person and lets see how long it will take for them to fix the roads with the e-toll money.
david said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:17 PM
Iola: I don't agree with the e-toll system but at least they have put a limit on how much you have to eventually pay, but of course the cost of living is going to go up as well I don't see a point in fighting the system
phew, glad we didn't need to rely on you to fight apartheid... incidentally, they can change the limit when ever they want to. you must be a fool to think it will stay as it is now indefinitely...
Lorette: I will also get the E-Tag like a lot of things that you have to do or get but you don't agree with.
David: Lorette, you are spineless. the attitude smacks of "i'm not a racist, i just went along with apartheid even though i knew it was wrong'
They are counting on this apathy for their corrupt system to work. When laws are unjust, it is your duty to rebel. Your cooperation makes you part of the problem. Catch a wake up, fellow citizens. We have to resist NOW. When you sit back and do nothing, they know they can carry on with their theft and corruption indefinitely...
Dune said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 01:03 PM
I have to agree with David i couldn't have said it better myself. Crime is going up, petrol going up once again and e-toll started. Why should we pay for something that wasn't even brought under the public's attention before they started building it?
Lorette said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 08:07 AM
I can't say it any better, Juliet. A Season of giving giving and giving. I will also get the E-Tag like a lot of things that you have to do or get but you don't agree with.
Lourien said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 07:29 AM
Maybe e-toll will pay for another Nkandla or one slightly Bigger!!
Liesl said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 03:54 PM
I am over this government everything they do is to make themselves fatter, don't even get me started on the petrol price increase tomorrow.
Angelique said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 01:37 PM
I will not be registering for e-toll as I do not get on a highway to come to work. Places where I need to get on the not so 'free-way' I either won't go or will use back roads. 2010 was meant to bring in money not put us in debt. This is annoying and only if I really have to will I register. Until then, I don't use highways as I do not want to get billed on this. Bunch of thieves!! As if taking our money to build extravagant homes, vehicles wasn't enough. They will not take any more of hard earned money of mine then they already do every month.
Iola said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 01:36 PM
I don't agree with the e-toll system but at least they have put a limit on how much you have to eventually pay, but of course the cost of living is going to go up as well I don't see a point in fighting the system
Sorea said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 01:19 PM
I am with David.
Kaylee said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 12:48 PM
Hmm, I am not too sure where I stand on this one. I was completely against e-tolls until I had an in depth conversation with one of my accountant friends about the economic benefits when it is implemented. The problem for me is that people will stop using the highways because of the cost implications and traffic will be a nightmare. I really just don't know..
david said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 11:51 AM
Bianca: I am not in favour of this system but will get my e-tag to avoid being arrested and having worse problems on my hands.
B, you cannot get arrested for not having an etag. this is a popular misconception SANRAL are delighted to have you believe.
the moment they have you in the system, it is impossible for you to get out. we have to fight this with everything we have.
DAVID said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 11:31 AM
with an etag, it is up to YOU to prove that you were not on their road, in the event of a billing error..
without an e-tag it is up to SANRAL to prove it was you using their road.
i will be requesting photographic proof of every single gantry they claim i went under...
the cost of recovering the toll will be more than the toll itself.
i already pay for the upkeep of SA roads (fuel levy), i will not pay twice. if the corrupt criminals didn't squander my taxes on bullshit like nkandla, they'd have been able to solve the roads issue without needing to come back to me for more cash.
to hell with them - bunch of thieves.
Bianca said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 11:30 AM
I am not in favour of this system but will get my e-tag to avoid being arrested and having worse problems on my hands.
Caron said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 11:24 AM
I'm with David!
Brumilde said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 11:13 AM
At the end of the day you will have to get the e-toll device because you are going to pay for it one way or another
Brumilde said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 11:13 AM
At the end of the day you will have to get the e-toll device because you are going to pay for it
david said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 11:10 AM
what a defeatist attitude. very sad, Michael... I will certainly not be buying an e-tag, and i sure as hell will not pay when i get their bill. the whole process regarding frustrating their efforts, and ultimately making it cost them money is detailed on many internet sites/forums. in case no one has noticed, we are having a revolution.
Juliet said:
on Monday 02-Dec-13 10:20 AM
And there is a 17c / litre petrol price increase this week too. This government really does know how to make the festive season a time for giving! Most of the people who voted for this government will not be affected and do not even know what e-tolls is.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
