The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) plans to embark on mass strike action in February in protest against the contentious Gauteng e-tolling system.
During a scheduled meeting of its central executive committee (CEC) this week, the organisation said since its last CEC there have been two meetings at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
“At the first meeting, we tabled our demands, including rescinding the implementation of the Gauteng tolls until the matter had been engaged at Nedlac.”
Cosatu sought a meeting with minister of transport Sibusiso Ndebele to obtain and explain why the e-toll system is still being implemented, but he has not responded.
“The tolls are to go ahead anyway, despite the public hearings, which have turned out to have been a waste of time, which has made Cosatu members very angry.
“The CEC, therefore, agreed to proceed with mass action, together with civil society organisations, at the end of February. Accordingly, we shall issue a final notice at Nedlac that will give us a right to a protected strike at the end of February 2012.”
Civil disobedience
In the meantime, the federation urges road users not to buy e-tags.
“If the tolls have not been scrapped, we will be encouraging motorists to drive through the tolls without paying. In this act of civil disobedience, we shall not present ourselves to the courts and will not pay fines imposed for merely using public roads that should remain a public good.”
Cosatu says it is also investigating legal action on the basis that continuing to impose tolls in Gauteng, while halting their extension to other provinces, constitutes discrimination.
Opposition ignored
Cabinet in August approved reduced tariffs for e-tolling in Gauteng, which dictate that motorcycles (Class A1) with e-tags will pay 24c/km; light vehicles (Class A2) will pay 40c/km; medium vehicles (Class B) 100c/km; and “longer” vehicles (Class C) 200c/km.
Qualifying commuter taxis (Class A2) and commuter buses (Class B) are completely exempt from the e-toll system.
The reduction for light vehicles without e-tags saw a drop from 66c/km to 58c/km, and from R3.95/km for heavy vehicles without e-tags to R2.95/km.
The system is set to go live in February, despite strong opposition from labour, political parties and citizens.
E-tags are now available at Checkers, Pick n Pay and Shoprite stores, for R50. They are also available from e-toll customer service outlets in shopping malls across Gauteng, consumer centres along the Gauteng e-road, via www.sanral.co.za, or the Sanral Call Centre.
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