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Johannesburg - About 2 500 people were protesting about toll fees in Swartruggens in the North West on Friday, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said.
Members of Cosatu, the local taxi association and residents embarked on a go slow and blockaded roads in the area, provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.
He said locals had been fighting against high toll fees in the area since 2011, but government had failed to lower the prices.
Local government had agreed to reduce the toll fees from R75 to R58 during a meeting in March, but that it had not been implemented, he said.
"The minister of transport has made empty promises to us."
He said the union federation was only prepared to negotiate a toll fee reduction of between R20 to R50.
Phetoe said protesters wanted the national transport department to address residents, lower the fees and repair alternative roads in the area.
"Several of the roads are in a bad condition and have potholes," Phetoe said.
The protest began from the Marikana toll gate and proceeded to the Swartruggens toll on Friday.
"We will ... return every Friday until government meet our demands," he said.
