Johannesburg - Cosatu has labelled Sanral’s threat to issue e-toll defaulters with summons as an extreme form of “bureaucratic bullying”.
The roads agency announced on Monday that motorists who have not paid their e-toll bills will soon be served with a summons by sheriffs of the courts.
The federation has, over the years, rejected the e-toll system and called on Gauteng motorist not to pay.
In a statement, it warned government to reign in its “marauding state entity”.
It said Gauteng motorists should not be held liable for a policy that was implemented by government, despite it being rejected.
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“To use legal threats and coercion in an attempt to bully people into submission, will not work but will result in the further wastage of our resources. This will strain the relations between the people and their government,” said the statement.
Cosatu said this form of collection shifted focus away from the development of integrated public transport model.
“This country needs a safe, reliable and affordable transport system that will improve the efficiency of the public transport and make it a mode of choice for everyone.”
The federation said it will continue to fight against the e-toll system.
“Cosatu reiterates its position that our highways are a national asset, which provide a vital public service for all South Africans. The only solution to the e-toll problem is for government to listen to the people and totally scrap them.”
LABOUR BUREAU