Reports indicate that the government will raise toll gate fees in the next few weeks due to the sharp increases in the price of road construction equipment and materials.
The Standard on Sunday quotes Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza as saying:
Definitely, the government is planning to increase tollgate fees soon. We don’t have the figures yet because we need to do consultations with various stakeholders, and once we have done that, then the increase will be announced.
The money collected will go towards the road fund, and the increase is imperative because the prices of materials used for roads have increased, and even the price of bread is far much more than tollgate fees.
Tollgate fees are currently $2 for small vehicles, $3 for minibuses, $4 for buses, $5 for heavy vehicles and $10 for horse and trailer trucks.
I trust the road building and repairs will extend into towns and will be open to public scrutiny. The anc is famous for its behind-the-door deals and back-handers