It's a GO for E-tolls as North Gauteng High Court Judge Louis Vorster dismissed the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance’s (Outa) application to have e-tolling in Gauteng scrapped, giving the controversial project the green light.

Vorster said the crux of Outa's application, that there had not been an efficient public participation process, was flawed. “In my view the application cannot succeed," Judge Louis Vorster ruled.

To add insult to injury, Judge Vorster issued a crippling legal costs order against Outa which will run into millions of rands. He ruled the alliance must pay both its own legal costs and those of government, including both battles from the court and at the Constitutional Court.

The alliance had argued the public was deliberately deceived and kept in the dark while South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and the Treasury slammed the allegation as a "conspiracy theory".

Government welcomed the ruling and urged motorists to respect the ruling. Spokesperson Thabo Masebe said in a statement, "Government calls on all parties to respect the decision of the court and together move forward in the implementation of the e-tolling system."

Meanwhile, Outa, the Automobile Association of SA and the Democratic Alliance expressed their disappointment with the court ruling. The AA's spokesperson Gary Ronald said motorists in the country have emerged as the "ultimate loser" in the battle and the ruling will mean significant additions to the costs of motoring in Gauteng.

While the DA's Jack Bloom called on Premier Nomvula Mokonyane to call a referendum so that people can have their say on the matter.

Outa's chairperson Wayne Duvenhage said they would study the judgment before they decide a way forward regarding the costs and a possible appeal. He urged people not to buy e-tags. "We still strongly believe that e-tolling is wrong, the decision is wrong. I’m very disappointed and believe we put a strong argument together,” added Duvenage.