Photo by: Duane Daws
Taxis had no reason to boycott e-tolls because public transport vehicles were exempt from these fees, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said on Monday.
"Santaco wishes to distance itself from any statements purported to have been made by the organisation calling for a boycott on e-tolls, such statements as reported in the media are both factually incorrect, malicious and misleading," it said in a statement.
Santaco was responding to an earlier Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) press statement applauding it for deciding to boycott the e-toll fees.
Santaco president Philip Taaibosch said: "We reject as false and malicious any suggestions and reports that Santaco wants to boycott e-tolls, this is the work of sinister forces with an intention to cause confusion and are trying to fight their battles using our name".
Taxis can apply for exemption from e-tolls if they have valid operating licences and are registered with the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral).
Problems relating to these conditions were being resolved between Sanral, Santaco and the Gauteng transport department, and "good progress" was being made in this regard.
Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage said that the statement his organisation issued earlier was based on reports last week to the effect that Santaco would boycott the e-tolls.