SATAWU - reiterates its position that these tolls must be scrapped

[Rea Molopyane]

SATAWU - reiterates its position that these tolls must be scrapped

23 February 2012

 

Following yesterday’s announcement by the Finance Minister that the State would allocate R5.8 billion to The South African National Roads Agency to reduce its R20 billion debt relating to Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, SATAWU will intensify its campaign against these e-tolls. Now, more than ever we call on all COSATU affiliated unions to join in our fight against the Gauteng e-tolls which are to be implemented in April.

 

 

SATAWU is quite disappointed that our government bent on implementing and imposing on us a system that it stinks like the apartheid geography settlements act which was prohibitively against freedom of movement. It is saying to the working class: stay where you are, if you travel, you will be penalized.

 

Can the Treasury tell us how many years will it take to square off the R20 billion and interest loan, surely there was a more efficient way of generating income for road infrastructure improvement. if we had a decent public transport system. In first world countries traffic is a problem but there are alternatives. We have none. Those that use the taxis simply have no other choice but to risk their lives every day as the government has made no alternatives available.

 

The rapid rise in petroleum prices exerted an upwards pressure on food prices as fertilizer prices nearly tripled and transport costs doubled over a two year period." This e-tolling monster burden will all be placed on Gauteng highway users, as well as commercial transport vehicles. May we remind you that Gauteng generates +-35% of the country's GDP, therefore what affects Gauteng road users (incl. commercial vehicles) from an economic point of view, will likely have a knock-on effect on the overall economy as well.

 

Clearly our earlier calls for the government to retain and introduce adequate measures to ensure that public transport is improved in the national interest were not heeded. How do you begin to implement so costly when the country has no reliable, safe and integrated public transport. Surely such tolls are quite simply an abuse of consumers' rights to affordable services.

 

SATAWU has mobilised our members in preparation for the COSATU, 7 March strike against Gauteng e-tolls and Labour Brokers. We call on the working class, the South African public at large and poor to unite and stand side by side in fighting Protest against SANRAL's Gauteng  tolled roads, reject the privatisation of public infrastructure.

 

Contact:

Mamokgethi Rea Molopyane

SATAWU National Spokesperson

Cell: 082 395 0907

Landline: 011 333 6127

E-mail: r...@satawu.org.za

Twitter: @Reagoikanya