Cosatu will stage a national protest against the e-tolling of Gauteng’s highways, its president Sidumo Dlamini said on Friday.<\/p>\n
“There is clarity from Cosatu that we are taking action on the streets of our country against e-tolls and for a fully integrated safe accessible public transport system,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
He said a Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) socio-economic commission met on Friday to decide on a “national day of action” against e-tolls.<\/p>\n
“The same meeting assigned the national office bearers to look for a date which will be within the first two weeks of November this year.”<\/p>\n
Cosatu second deputy president Zingiswa Losi said there were different ways Cosatu could protest against e-tolls, one of which was a drive-slow on Gauteng’s highways.<\/p>\n
“It can [also] be a national stay-away, where workers across the country may, when Cosatu has decided on a date, take a day to strike and say we are not going to work.”<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein dismissed the latest challenge by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance to e-tolling of Gauteng’s freeways.<\/p>\n
The court’s decision was met with mixed reaction. Transport Minister Dipuo Peters and Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi welcomed the news.<\/p>\n
However, Cosatu, the Democratic Alliance, the Automobile Association of SA, the Freedom Front Plus, Agang SA, and the Economic Freedom Fighters were disappointed by the ruling.<\/p>\n
On September 25, Zuma signed into law the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill, paving the way for e-tolling.<\/p>\n
Dlamini said the court’s decision would make no difference to Cosatu’s campaign.<\/p>\n
“[Our campaign]… was never about the legality of the tolls, but on a fundamental principle — that our roads are a national asset, already paid for through taxation and the fuel levy, and motorists should not therefore have to pay again to drive on these public freeways.”<\/p>\n
Fight against e-tolls now up to people of Gauteng: DA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Outa\u2019s e-toll case dismissed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n