COSATU Statement on ‘New E-tolls Dispensation’ announced

21 May 2015

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted the announcement done yesterday, the 20^th May 2015 by the Deputy President of the Republic, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa on a new dispensation of the implementation of Gauteng Freeways, commonly known as ‘e-tolls system’.

The 11^th National Congress in 2012 , amongst others, resolved to campaign for a campaign on an accessible, affordable and reliable public transport system in South Africa and also resolved to reject any form of commodification of public goods.

The National Congress characterized e-tolls as a form of privatization of public roads.

COSATU has been one of the many participants when the E-tolls  Advisory Panel activities resumed, to investigate the socio-economic impact of the e-tolls system.

And workers rejected the system as it will deepen inequalities in access of and utilization of public goods, free-ways.

COSATU has rejected the user-pay principle and demanded that the funding model must explore possibilities of taxation.

COSATU acknowledges that it was ‘found that the current e-toll system in its current form laced a disproportionate burden on low and middle-income households’.

And majority of these workers utilize their vehicle not out of luxury but because the public transport is not reliable, accessible and efficient across all towns and communities around Gauteng.

To suggest that ‘settlement of e-tolls will be linked to motor vehicle licence renewal and that all motorists must settle any outstanding e-toll fees before vehicle licence discs are issued’, may cause a lot of inconvenience in the pockets of many road users.

Majority of workers have motor vehicles as their work stations on the roads on an hourly basis and such a move may dis-able them to sustain their survival in small business enterprises.

COSATU has noted the report announced and will engage fully in the coming Special Central Executive Committee [CEC] from the 25^th May until the 27^th May at COSATU House, Braamfontein.

Commodification of public goods is not a COSATU policy and the Federation will continue to reject any accumulation of profits at the expense of the masses.

COSATU will campaign for an accessible, affordable and reliable public transport system for all.

Any system which is pronounced as ‘fair’, ‘affordable’ and ‘sustainable’ must be considerate to the conscious erosion of the wage share of workers, whose daily costs of living are skyrocketing with each month.

COSATU calls for scrapping of e-tolls system.

Statement issued by COSATU, May 21 2015