Lesufi was briefing the media in Johannesburg on Friday.

“We need to meet with the Ministers of Finance and Transport to conclude on all outstanding matters which includes determining the exact figure of the 30% contribution that we need to make towards settling the e-toll debt," he said.

Last month, during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the national government would scrap e-tolls and absorb the e-tolls debt by paying 70% and the Gauteng government paying 30% of the debt. 

Lesufi says the provincial government has proposed a financing model for the e-tolls project also known as the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. 

He says they will consult citizens on how to raise money to pay for the cost of Gauteng's freeways, but it will not involve e-tolls. 

“The issue of maintenance, our proposal as the provincial government was mainly and only on the 30% but the minister’s speech included maintenance. We are not rejecting or objecting, because these are national roads, and if we, as Gauteng, are expected to maintain them, there must be due process, therefore we believe the meeting will clarify those aspects. 

“There are also people who have been paying e-tolls and they expect clarity from us, also we need to know what will become of the process of deregistering e-tolls,” said Lesufi. 

Lesufi said they have proposed to pay R1 billion a year for 20 years to settle the debt. 

“As the provincial government, to relieve the pressure on the GPG fiscus and maintain the delivery of social services and other imperatives like fighting crime, we wish to stager the repayment of the 30% over 20 years,” added Lesufi. 

Finance MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, has been tasked with finding ways to raise funds for the 30% debt, while Community Safety MEC, Faith Mazibuko, is expected to come up with plans on how the e-toll gantries can be used to tackle crime. 

Jacaranda FM