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Cosatu: Inquiry into e-toll needed

Pretoria - A commission of inquiry is needed into the Gauteng e-tolling project, Cosatu provincial secretary Dumisani Dakile said at the march against e-tolling in Pretoria on Friday.

"We want to know who are the contractors and sub-contractors... There is a need for a commission of inquiry into the e-tolling system," Dakile told transport department official James Molao before handing over a memorandum to him.

"We want to know who are the beneficiaries because they are milking us of billions and billions of rands every year."

He said it was clear that no one wanted the system.

"They want government to make tapes and notes from public hearings on e-tolls. We want to see if there is one citizen in Gauteng who wants toll roads."

The public rejected the tolls, he said.

"We want to make it clear to you that the public rejects e-tolls. There are companies milking us everyday.

"Sanral is an agent of this department. We are calling on the department to disband Sanral," Dakile told Molao.

Sanral is the SA National Roads Agency Limited which has been at the forefront of e-tolling.

Dakile said if the department did not have the capacity to demolish the toll gantries, "call us, we have capable comrades".

Dakile wanted a response to the two memorandums it handed over to the National Treasury and the transport department by 5pm on Monday.

"If we don't get a response, we are marching on the freeways. Comrades, bring your bicycles, we have organised tractors."

Earlier when marchers handed over the first memorandum to Treasury, Dakile said Cosatu would occupy "all the streets of Gauteng" on December 6 if it did not receive "positive" feedback.

"... If they are not going to respond positively, we are going to occupy all the streets on December 6."

The High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday reserved judgment on the future of the e-tolling system, following a challenge by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance.

Dakile said the people would not accept the roll-out of e-tolling on roads between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

"The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The public transport in this country is a mess."

Poor people paid a large part of their salaries to transport, said Dakile.

"This e-tolls is part of privatisation of our own roads. This system will benefit the elite in South Africa."

"Voetsak e-tolls, voetsak," he shouted.

After handing over the second memorandum, the marchers began dispersing.

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