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Johannesburg - The Congress of SA Trade Unions' (Cosatu) protest against e-tolling got off to a slow start in Johannesburg on Friday with a convoy of around 50 cars participating in the drive-slow on the M1 highway.
The drive-slow, which started at the Cosatu's headquarters in Braamfontein, formed part of its ongoing campaign against e-tolls, labour broking, and the youth wage subsidy.
Cosatu Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile earlier told reporters the drive-slow protest would be an effective way to highlight these issues to society.
The drive-slow convoy, escorted by an array of law enforcement vehicles with flashing lights, occupied two lanes of the highway on the M1 with protesters driving between 60 to 70 kilometres per hour on the route.
Most other motorists did not pay much attention to the convoy which proceeded without incident. It did not cause major congestion.
Two political parties, the Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front Plus, announced further legal action this week to challenge the Gauteng e-tolls project and declare the enabling legislation unconstitutional.
A legal challenge to e-tolling by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Appeal last month.
Outa announced on October 18 it did not have money to continue the legal fight against e-tolling. Outa's argument remained that the SA National Roads Agency and government did not conduct a proper public participation process.
Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has indicated that the controversial user-pay system is set to be rolled-out at the end of 2013.
