Do not buy e-tags: Cosatu

The public should not buy e-tags because Cosatu would strongly oppose the introduction of e-tolling, spokesman Patrick Craven said on Wednesday.

"The federation rejects the argument for 'user-pays' for basic public services like our roads, and repeats its warning to the government not to even think about implementing e-tolls."

Craven took on Transport Minister Ben Martins for reportedly saying that consumers could go and buy their e-toll discs, as the department was busy concluding talks on the matter.

Martins should be aware that Cosatu and most residents of Gauteng were opposed to the tolls, Craven said.

A task team, set up by the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the African National Congress, was still investigating alternative funding means.

In addition, a court review of the e-tolling system would only take place next month.

"The minister's announcement appears to imply that the ongoing consultations and the court review are mere formalities and a public relations exercise, and that e-tolling will be going ahead anyway," Craven said.

The inter-ministerial committee on the Gauteng freeway improvement project said earlier that Gauteng motorists would know on Friday how e-tolling would be put into practice.