Subscribe

E-tolling may get toyi-toyi treatment

Farzana Rasool
By Farzana Rasool, ITWeb IT in Government Editor.
Johannesburg, 17 May 2011

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has demanded the e-tolling debate be put before the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

It has threatened strike action if this and other demands around the project are not met.

The trade union federation submitted a notice to Nedlac under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act, in connection with the Gauteng Open Road Tolling System (ORTS).

The e-tolling project is an open road, multilane toll infrastructure that allows tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.

The toll tariffs were initially gazetted at 66c/km for standard light motor vehicles, and R3.96/km for heavy vehicles. However, large-scale public outrage resulted in the fees being suspended and consultation processes were started by the Department of Transport (DOT).

Rejecting disaster

E-tolling is aimed at consolidating privatisation of the nation's road network, says Cosatu.

“The system will have a negative impact on the workers and the poor. It will result in job losses and possibly an increase in municipal tariffs for basic services. In the context of high levels of unemployment, this would be disastrous. Cosatu, therefore, rejects the ORTS.”

For this reason, the trade union says it demands proper consultation at Nedlac. “The discussion must centre around the provision of an integrated, reliable and safe public transport system.”

It also demands an immediate stop on further privatisation in the transport sector. It calls for more investment in the rail transport infrastructure.

“If there was meaningful investment in the rail transport infrastructure, the damage to the road network caused (and now solved through privatisation in the form of ORTS) by the road freight would be minimal.”

Active protest

Cosatu has threatened to mobilise its members for a protest in the form of marches, demonstrations, pickets and stay-aways, should there be no progress in addressing these challenges.

“We would prefer to see them scrap the system altogether, but we'll see what solution comes out of the consultations and if it's not acceptable we reserve the right to protest,” says national spokesperson Patrick Craven.

“We believe we already bear enough taxes with the fuel levy and that's where the money should come from for road maintenance.”

Double bite

The DOT did receive an invitation from Nedlac to present on e-tolling, according to DOT spokesperson Logan Maistry.

He adds that the department is making arrangements to heed the call and conduct the presentation.

“But Nedlac is actually just a big talk shop. They act as government and labour so they have a double bite here,” says Democratic Alliance spokesperson for transport in Gauteng Neil Campbell.

“If Nedlac can swing it, it will be great, but Nedlac doesn't really swing anything. But it's interesting to see this between Cosatu and the ANC before elections. I think it's amazing that this is all coming out.”

Public priority

Cosatu says the priority should be to create a reliable public transport system for the country.

“In our view, the failure to invest in a safe, reliable, integrated and affordable public transport system has resulted in massive congestion on major roads due to proliferation of minibuses, freight transport and private vehicles.

“In those towns where there is still rail transport, trains are unreliable, unsafe and result in workers arriving late at work, thus losing part of their pay and in many cases, their jobs.”

Economic lifeblood

“No workers will be employed to collect the tariffs as happens with the majority of toll points currently,” says Cosatu.

The central objective of all government programmes is the creation of decent work. “So how is Sanral contributing to this important national objective?” asks Cosatu.

It adds that transport is the lifeblood of commerce and industry. Accordingly, an increase in transport costs tends to have a knock-on-effect on the economy as a whole.

“Already the industry has indicated it will be impacted negatively by the open tolling system. We know from experience that workers would be the victims of retrenchments if firms see their profit margins impacted negatively.”

The trade union adds that this would compound the already bleak employment situation in the country. In the first three months of 2011, the rate of unemployment increased from 24% in the last quarter of 2010 to 25%.

“This is a crisis which would be made worse by the ORTS. The system will make it even more difficult for the more than four million unemployed to go out and look for jobs. The country is therefore bound to see more and more workers discouraged to look for jobs.”

Share