Gauteng's highways are in for massive disruptions this month as the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) - together with 10 civil society and religious organisations - intensifies action against government's proposed e-toll system.
Yesterday, the union again called on government to abandon the system - widely deemed "unfair and unjustified" - and to consider alternative means of funding for the upgrade and maintenance of Gauteng's roads.
Starting with a blockade of Johannesburg's key highways tomorrow, Cosatu says a series of protests and demonstrations will be carried out in coming weeks, in an attempt to mar government's open road tolling plans.
"[The action serves to] highlight to the government that this system is unacceptable and has no support across communities."
Cosatu has the support of the Congress of South African Students, South African Student Congress, South African National Civic Organisation, United Association of Taxis Forum, South African Catholic Bishops Conference Justice and Peace, South African Council of Churches, Bikers Against E-toll, Treatment Action Campaign, National Association of National School Governing Bodies, and the National Taxi Forum.
Protest routes
Kicking off Cosatu's fresh bout of protests, Gauteng provincial secretary Dumisani Dakile says protestors will gather at Cosatu House, in Jorrisen Street, Johannesburg, from 7:30am tomorrow.
"[We will] leave at about 8:30am and proceed to join the M1 North up to the N1 North and the Oilifantsfontein offramp, joining the N1 South to the Nasrec interchange and the N12, and thereafter the M2 North until we join the M1 North and Smith Street offramp."
Next Friday (31 May) another blockade will target Ekurhuleni's highways. Dakile says protesters will gather next to Mbhoro Church, next to the Hatfield Stadium, in Reef Street, from about 7:30am.
"We intend to leave at about 8:30am and join Heidelberg Road, the N3 North, N12 North, R24 North and then the R21 North, to the Nelmapius offramp, [after which we will] join the R21 South [and head back via] the R24 South to the N12 South and N3 South back to Heidelberg road."
Further action will continue into June, says Dakile, starting with a "massive stay-away and march" in Johannesburg. "The march will be to demand the scrapping of the e-tolls and also banning of labour brokers."
Details of the stay-away and march will be announced "in due course", says Cosatu. Dakile says prayer services will also be held across the province in coming weeks.
Cosatu has vowed to persevere in its efforts should government "not listen to us".
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