Page 2 BIG PLANS: Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni Mondli Gungubele explaining the Aerotropolis project to the members of the Ekurhuleni Business Initiative forum at Lakeside Mall in Benoni.
23 April 2014
tame TIMES
Aerotropolis project underway Amy-Mae Campbell
amymae.campbell@tametimes.co.za
According to the Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mondli Gungubele, the Ekurhuleni government is officially in the process of planning Africa’s largest business airport: the Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis. Gungubele attended the Ekurhuleni Business Initiative forum meeting on Monday, 14 April in Benoni, and laid out the government’s plan of action. According to Gungubele, they
are currently in the process of identifying constraints in Ekurhuleni that need to be addressed, such as service delivery challenges, in order for the Aerotropolis project to work. Gungubele aims to have the planning process completed within six months from now, after which they will draw up a master plan. The Aerotropolis project forms part of the 2025 Growth and Development Strategy, which states that the local government must work towards creating opportunities within their communities. The aim is to develop the O.R. Tambo International Airport into the largest airport city in Africa and to connect the whole of Ekurhuleni through this airport centre. Gungubele believes that this airport city will create many job opportunities in Ekurhuleni, which in turn will have a positive impact on the economy: “South Africa is a maturing country. We must work together to strengthen society and build on this maturity. As government we do our best, so the community can do the rest,” Gungubele said. The Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis is a long-term endeavour, which the government aims to have completed by 2025.
Sjoe, wat ‘n voorreg en uitdaging om hierdie titel langsaan my naam te skryf. Vir dié van julle wat met Chantal Thurlby gekommunikeer het, sy is ongelukkig nie meer deel van tame TIMES nie en het die taak van redakteurwees aan my toevertrou. Ek sien baie daarna uit om die Boksburg gemeenskap te leer ken. Ek glo dat ‘n koerant ‘n betroubare inligtingsplatform moet wees en ek hoop dat al my lesers my eerste uitgawe voorwaar sal geniet en waardevol sal vind. I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am both excited and intimidated to write “Editor” next to my name. It is with a heavy heart that I greet my senior- Chantal Thurlby. I have learnt so much from her and I hope that this first edition will reflect that. I am very excited to get to know the Boksburg community and to share your stories. I hope that this edition will be both very informative and enjoyable. Happy reading! Lekker lees!
Ignoring e-toll bills - a criminal offence Many people who are against the e-toll system use e-toll roads frequently without paying their accumulated e-toll bills. However, the reality is that refusing to pay e-toll bills is a criminal offence for which one could be imprisoned. According to Dino Montepara, attorney at Malherbe Rigg & Ranwell inc., there is a lot of speculation surrounding the legal implications of dodging e-toll bills, as no arrest for avoiding bills has been recorded as of yet. However, were
SANRAL to decide that they want to arrest those who refuse to pay, one could face a six-month jail sentence. “SANRAL is empowered through legislation to create tolling facilities on roads and to collect levied tolls. The legislation puts a requirement on us to pay e-toll. If not, it is a criminal offence,” explained Montepara. Apart from taking legal action to recover the toll levies, SANRAL may also give civil fines, which are equivalent to the South African consumer right index; and increases in relation to this
index. The current ratio of e-tag users versus those who do not have e-tags is approximately 500:100; which works out to five times the original amount for those without e-tags. Those without e-tags who pay within the seven day grace period can get an 82% discount, among others, for certain time periods. The reality remains, however, that not only is it much more expensive to be a non-registered user without an e-tag, but avoiding to pay altogether could result in a jail sentence; should e-tolls survive its opposition.
*Stock image
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