Cosatu rejects Gauteng freeway tolling

Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi says the R5.8 billion allocated to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) is not good enough.

Image: Gallo Images

Audio

The Budget: NHI and tolling

Articles

Speaking after Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's budget vote speech in Parliament on Wednesday, Vavi said the entire R20 billion debt accumulated by the building of the freeway should have been scrapped.

"We (the workers) are not cash cows that can be held up on behalf of foreigners who want to make money off us by using our public goods," he said.

Vavi said the labour movement would go ahead with its planned strike on March 7 and would discuss the "need" for a second strike on April 30, when the GFIP was due to become operational.

He said Cosatu would not cooperate with the GFIP and that they would encourage people not to buy e-tags.

"This project, even with the discounts would cost the worker an extra R500 per month," Vavi said.

Back to Budget 2012 Special Report

COMMENTS

No comments have been created

Poll

The general fuel levy is going up by 20 cents from April 4 and the Road Accident Fund levy by 8 cents, while toll roads are coming at 30c/km on April 30. Is it too much?

Yes, far too much. With the other increases, like up to 20% on alcohol and electricity prices, I am being squeezed to bursting point
No, this is good as it means our roads can be fixed
Yes, I won't pay the toll fees despite the reduction and intend joining in the action to get it scrapped