Yes, I see you, hon Manuel. Just hold on.
Historically, this government has wasted approximately R14 billion of fuel levy money, on average per annum, on other wasteful projects for years instead of fixing South Africa's roads. The voters want to know what you have done with the money. Was it spent on Nkandla? Was it spent on bailing out SA Airways?
Now this government wants Gauteng and the Western Cape motorists to pay again. That makes e-tolling a form of double taxation. The question remains: Why were the national and provisional roads allowed to collapse when the fuel levy money was available for the past two decades to pay for their maintenance?
The motorists and taxpayers of Gauteng have expressed their views on the e- toll, as the Minister of Transport said in this very House. They are saying no to e-tolls! Instead, they would prefer to pay a fuel levy. However, this government insists on forcing e-tolls on everyone.
There is also far too little in this budget to maintain provincial roads, such as the alternative route to the N2 at Bloukrans, which has been closed for the past year because the roads department in the Eastern Cape is unable to maintain the alternative route. This forces motorists to use the toll road whether they want to or not, and they have to pay. That's a great way to line the coffers of a wasteful government which has lost touch with ordinary South Africans.
Under these circumstances, the DA cannot support this Transport Budget Vote and will vote no.