Cosatu tells drivers to ignore tolls

Cosatu has slammed the proposed Gauteng road tolls, calling on motorists to "drive through the tolls [plazas] without paying".

Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu's general-secretary, said yesterday that the federation's central executive committee had resolved to go ahead with a civil disobedience campaign against the tolls that would start with a strike at the end of February.

"In the meantime, we are urging people not to buy the e-tags. If the tolls have not been scrapped [by February] we will be encouraging motorists to drive through the tolls without paying," said Vavi.

He said Cosatu would encourage motorists to defy the courts by refusing to pay fines imposed on them for using Gauteng's upgraded highways. Vavi argued that it was discriminatory to impose tolls in Gauteng while such plans were on hold in other provinces.

"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.

"Meanwhile, we shall investigate legal action on the basis that continuing to impose tolls in Gauteng while halting their extension to other provinces constitutes discrimination," he said.

Vavi said Cosatu had attempted to schedule a meeting with Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele to discuss the tolls but he had ignored their requests.

But Ndebele's spokesman, Tiyani Rikhotso, said it was Vavi who had been giving the minister the run-around.

"It's not correct that the minister of transport has not been available to meet the leadership of Cosatu.

"We are waiting for a date for a meeting with them. We remain available to engage with any concerned party on this matter," said Rikhotso.

The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project toll tariffs were announced in February but were put on hold following a public outcry.

The tolls were set by the SA National Roads Agency.

A government-led committee was set up to review the proposed tolls.

The roads agency proposed the tolls so that it could repay a R20-billion loan it had raised to pay for the improvements to the freeways, which are intended to lessen congestion.

Tolls for motorcyclists have been reduced from 29c a kilometre to 24c, and for cars from 49.5c to 40c. Non-commuter minibuses will pay R1, a drop of 49c, and frequent users will qualify for a discount.

• Cosatu has declared Limpopo to be the hub of corruption in South Africa and plans an anti-corruption march in Polokwane on December 13.