Where must they still dip into their pockets and their budgets to feed their families? [Interjections.]
According to statistics, there are more than 1 million e-toll nonpaying offenders. [Interjections.] It is for this reason that two magistrates were assigned by the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, to handle these Sanral cases, even though South African courts are under tremendous pressure with thousands of unattended prosecutions every year.
By pure pressure from the public, political parties, groups and your own alliance partner, Cosatu, you, hon Minister, asked that the prosecution of nonpaying e-toll users be halted for now - and I am thankful for that. Had you not made the call to stop prosecuting, I would most probably have had to wait for about 275 years to plead my case before one of these two magistrates, as there are almost a million prosecutions. I hope to live that long, so as to see that day. I thank you very much. [Applause.] [Interjections.]