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Johannesburg - The Supreme Court of Appeal's dismissal of the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance's (Outa) challenge to e-tolls makes no difference to Cosatu's campaign, the trade union federation said on Wednesday.
"This decision will make no difference to Cosatu’s unwavering campaign against this attempt to privatise our public highways," Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement.
"... Our roads are a public asset already paid for through taxation and the fuel levy, and motorists should not therefore have to pay again to drive on these public highways."
Earlier, SCA Judge Fritz Brand refused Outa's appeal against the SA National Roads Agency Limited's (Sanral) plans to introduce e-tolls. No costs order was made.
However, Brand set aside the order granted by the High Court in Pretoria directing Outa to pay Sanral costs, and replaced it with a ruling that there be no costs order.
Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage said the alliance and its lawyers were studying Brand's judgment.
The Democratic Alliance said the fight against e-tolls was now in the hands of the people of Gauteng.
"E-tolling will kill jobs in Gauteng and make it harder for people to make ends meet," DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.
"The power of the vote is the surest way to stop tolls."
Maimane said this was not the end of the road in the fight against e-tolls.
He said the DA had contributed R1m to Outa's court action because it believed it was important to contest the principle of e-tolling.
