Deputy Speaker, if this Bill becomes law, it will drive yet another nail into the coffin of the already stressed taxpayer. Business will also suffer and we will have no option but to pass on these costs to the consumers. That is you and me. The effect would be that we pay twice to be on the roads. The projected operational costs of the system remain outrageously high and one can only wonder: cui bono? In other words, who benefits? It is not the consumer. The IFP, like all other political parties, together with the people and business of South Africa, calls for the scrapping of this plan. It is simply unaffordable to the citizens of South Africa.
It is clear that the government has its back against the wall. The Public Investment Corporation, PIC, has already acquired billions of rands in Sanral bonds. The Government Employees Pension Fund holds financial interests. Who else holds interests? Deputy Speaker, you can imagine how many votes the ANC will lose in next year's election because of this rip- off of the consumer. [Interjections.]
The IFP submits, as from the beginning, that the entire plan has been ill- conceived and poorly planned. We do not support the plan, and we do not support the Bill. Instead of waiting to vote next year, we will be voting today against this Bill. [Applause.]