Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.(SABC)
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The public should not buy e-tags because Cosatu strongly opposes the introduction of e-tolling, the trade union's spokesperson Patrick Craven said today. "The federation rejects the argument for 'user-pays' for basic public services like our roads, and repeats its warning to the government not to even think about implementing e-tolls."
Craven took on Transport Minister Ben Martins for reportedly saying that consumers could go and buy their e-toll discs, as the department was busy concluding talks on the matter.
"Martins should be aware that Cosatu and most residents of Gauteng were opposed to the tolls", said Craven.
A task team, set up by Cosatu and the ANC, was still investigating alternative funding means.
In addition, a court review of the e-tolling system would only take place next month. "The minister's announcement appears to imply that the ongoing consultations and the court review are mere formalities and a public relations exercise, and that e-tolling will be going ahead anyway," Craven said.
The inter-ministerial committee on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project said earlier that Gauteng motorists would know on Friday how e-tolling would be put into practice.
