Friday's protest march against government's proposed Gauteng e-tolling system was symptomatic of an apathetic society, and citizens need to either stand up for a cause - or stop complaining.
This is the post-demonstration feedback from Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) chairperson Wayne Duvenage. He notes that - while the per-capita turnout at the planned Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) march was good - it was not representative of a cross-section of society.
"It's hard to say for sure, but at the Johannesburg march there were perhaps about 2 000 people taking part. But it was very much a Cosatu march, which was disappointing, because I expected a better cross-section of citizens to be present."
Duvenage says this reaffirms the notion that South Africans are not as attuned to participating when the opportunity to voice grievances arises.
He says this attitude is also borne out in Outa's legal battle against the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral), Department of Transport (DOT) and National Treasury, which it fought out in the North Gauteng High Court last week Monday to Wednesday. "There are only about 2 100 participants when it comes to funding the case we are fighting for Gauteng's motorists, of which there are about a million."
From the outset, says Duvenage, the expectation was that a great proportion of society would rally behind the cause - both because "it is close to their hearts, and because a victory over e-tolls would translate into significant savings for citizens".
"Society has to now get involved. People need to challenge unjust regulations - and there is much to challenge. Otherwise we must say 'fine Mr Government, you go ahead and do what you feel you need to do' - and that is a dangerous place to be."
Protest action
Despite threats of civil unrest from e-toll dissidents, Friday's marches in the CBDs of Johannesburg and Pretoria went off without incident, amid a considerable police presence.
Memorandums were handed to the relevant state departments and feedback is expected this week - probably by Friday, according to Cosatu's national spokesperson Patrick Craven.
Gauteng roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi said on Friday that Cosatu could expect a response by Friday, but Zwelenzima Vavi, Cosatu's general secretary, says citizens will believe that when they see it. "When we were here [in protest of e-tolls] on the 7th of March, he [Vadi] and the premier promised that they would respond to our memorandum within seven days." Vavi says that didn't happen and the citizens of Gauteng need to show government they have the same determination to resist the system as government seems to have to implement it despite the outcry by its people.
Meanwhile, as part of Cosatu's phased plan to stop Gauteng e-tolls in its tracks, further protest action is planned for this week, which will see Gauteng highways being blockaded. Craven says details of the demonstration are as yet sketchy. "We will be dealing with what the highway demonstration will entail today, but it is definitely going ahead on Thursday."
Vavi has called on motorists to park their cars at the nearest e-toll gantry at 5am, on Thursday. "Bring your trailer, bring everything and park it there for the whole day."
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