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Johannesburg - The working class and the poor must stand up
against Gauteng tolling because it is an elite driven, money making scheme, the
SA Transport & Allied Workers Union (Satawu) said on Friday.
"There is no compelling reason why the working class
had to be overburdened by toll fees when they are still fighting for decent
living wage," national spokesperson Mamokgethi Molopyane said.
"The Department of Transport has failed to understand
the needs of the South African public.
"We call on the working class and poor to unite and
stand side by side in fighting this e-tolling monster. Through our marches,
demonstrations and pickets we will bring this behemoth to its knees," she
said.
She said motorists would end up with empty pockets and it
made no sense to be tolled on something residents were already taxed on.
Cabinet approved reduced toll tariffs for the Gauteng
freeway improvement project (GFIP) phase A1, on Thursday.
Motorcycles would pay 24 cents a kilometre, light motor
vehicles 40 cents, medium vehicles R1, and "longer" vehicles R2,
Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin told reporters after Cabinet's regular
Wednesday fortnightly meeting.
Qualifying commuter taxis and buses would be exempted
entirely.
In addition to the 31% e-tag discount, other discounts
applicable would be a time of day discount available to all vehicles, and a
frequent user discount for motorcycles and light motor vehicles fitted with an
e-tag.
Cabinet had agreed that Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele
should give effect to the approval in terms of the SA National Roads Agency
Limited (Sanral) and National Roads Act.
Civil rights group Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel said motorists
were being reduced to cash cows.
"It is outrageous that the burden to finance the toll
roads now lies with ordinary motorists," Kriel said in a statement.
"Considering that taxis and buses are completely
exempted from toll fees."
The situation had worsened since motorists would not be able
to claim back their toll expenses from taxable income, unlike transport
companies and taxis who would be able to, he said.
"Despite income tax, fuel levies, vehicle licences, and
toll fees which motorists have to pay, they will also be expected to pay VAT on
toll fees.
"If tax was an investment, it would have been a poor
investment, since a large group of tax payers enjoy little - if any advantage
from their tax money," Kriel said.
AfriForum will ask its legal team to investigate the
possibility of taking legal action against the unfair way ordinary motorists
were being discriminated against, he said.
The Young Communist League said it was disgusted over the
approved tariffs and asked government to scrap the project entirely.
The league would also mobilise its membership and
communities if their call was not heeded, national spokesperson Mafika Mndebele
said.
