Cosatu is planning another provincial strike against Gauteng’s multibillion-rand e-tolls as its campaign opposing the controversial tolling system gains momentum.
The trade union federation said it would seek permission to use more than one lane in its next drive-slow on Gauteng freeways, after another “successful” drive at a snail’s pace around Johannesburg on Monday.
Cosatu Gauteng spokesman Dumisani Dakile said they would urge law enforcement agencies to allow them to drive at less than the prescribed 40km/h.
If granted their wish, Dakile said, a drive-slow with a heavier impact could be expected in Pretoria, where Cosatu Gauteng was planning its next campaign action next Tuesday.
This will be followed by a provincial strike against e-tolls on July 5, which will see Cosatu members and those opposing e-tolls march across Joburg, handing over memorandums to several offices.
200 VEHICLES
During Monday’s protest, about 200 vehicles, including police cars, drove at 40km/h from Cosatu House to the M1 North and N1 North, turned back at Olifantsfontein Road via the N1 South, then the N12 East at the Diepkloof interchange, before joining the M1 North as the convoy headed back to the starting point in Braamfontein.
Joined by minibus taxis supporting the campaign, the long procession used the far-right lane, while the next lane was occupied by Joburg metro police and the police, who were keeping a close eye on the convoy.
Despite at least one lane left for normal traffic, the flow of traffic was badly affected and backed up on the M1 North towards the Olifantsfontein off-ramp. The same sight was seen on the N1 South as the procession went past Sunninghill.
Dakile said: “The numbers are up compared to what we had in Ekurhuleni recently. Our aim is not to disrupt traffic, but to raise awareness and to demonstrate the gravity of our opposition to e-tolls.”
“The drive-slow campaign has definitely reached momentum.”
“We had to compromise when metro police only allowed us one lane and a speed of 40km/h, but we’ll go back and request amendments to some conditions. We’d want to drive at least at 20km/h and use more lanes in the future.”
Dakile described an e-toll project that already has 45 gantries built on freeways around the province as “daylight robbery”, which will “see about R616 million leaving our shores, going to international investors”.
“This is just the beginning of our campaign against this robbery and a build-up to more actions to come. More drive-slows, marches and other actions will be seen in the future and we’ll continue until our voices have been heard,” he said.
“We still urge drivers out there not to buy e-tags or register for e-tolling.”
Cosatu and the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance have been leading the war against e-tolls. - The Star