Durban - Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday took to the streets to demonstrate against the introduction of automated lanes in the Mariannhill Tollgate in Pinetown.
The workers’ demonstration formed part of the resolution of the labour federation to campaign against the e-tolls.
Yesterday, workers from different unions had held aloft placards that read “Don’t register with Sanral” and “Don’t buy e-Tags” during the lunch-hour picket.
Cosatu provincial secretary, Edwin Mkhize, said the labour federation had noted that South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) was spreading the e-tolling agenda across the country through the introduction of automated lanes.
“The introduction of the automated lanes, called Shesha lanes, that work through the e-Tags, is nothing but part of their e-tolling system.
“As Cosatu we view this as dangerous in our attempts to create jobs since, there are a number of workers who work in these tollgates who are now going to lose employment,” Mkhize said.
He also said if the automated lanes were allowed, tollgates would benefit the elite and their powerful companies at the expense of the poor.
“It is worrying because government has always used jobs created through tollgates as one of their standpoint to defend tollgates.”
Mkhize also said Cosatu would intensify their demonstrations until the e-tolls were done away with.
Sanral spokesman, Vusi Mona, could not be reached for comment.
Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal leads the struggle against implementation of the e-tolls and tollgates by picketing at the Mariannhill Toll Plaza yesterday.
Daily News