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Cape Town - If there will be a Marikana over the boycott against the N4 toll tariffs then so be it, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the North West said in a statement on Wednesday.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) and the Bakwena Platinum Corridor Consortium increased the N4 Swartruggens tollgate fee from R71 to R75 for light passenger vehicles.
The increase took effect last week, despite facing stiff opposition from the union federation to have the tariffs reduced to R20.
"We will not pay R75 for toll gate; we will have to do something to protect the interest of our working class," said provincial secretary Solly Phetoe.
Cosatu also expressed its unhappiness with Transport Minister Dipuo Peters.
"Cosatu is disappointed because we have been engaging the ministry for the past two years and we are not getting any joy from them.
"At least the past minister considered us by not increasing the toll fees and establishing a task team to look into issues that were raised by workers and members of the communities"
Phetoe said when the increase was raised with the minister, she took a hard line and shrugged off the concerns.
"This attitude from our own government leaves us with no option except to go back to the road and protest," he said.
The strike will go ahead with or without permission. "If there will be a Marikana let it be," said Phetoe.
He threatened that it may also result in blocking the road until the 2014 elections.
The country's road infrastructure requires substantial and urgent investment, Sanral chief executive Nazir Alli told The New Age last week.
"Sanral relies on the user-pay principle to maintain a high quality road network while contributing to improved road safety and generally shorter travelling distances.”
- Fin24
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) and the Bakwena Platinum Corridor Consortium increased the N4 Swartruggens tollgate fee from R71 to R75 for light passenger vehicles.
The increase took effect last week, despite facing stiff opposition from the union federation to have the tariffs reduced to R20.
"We will not pay R75 for toll gate; we will have to do something to protect the interest of our working class," said provincial secretary Solly Phetoe.
Cosatu also expressed its unhappiness with Transport Minister Dipuo Peters.
"Cosatu is disappointed because we have been engaging the ministry for the past two years and we are not getting any joy from them.
"At least the past minister considered us by not increasing the toll fees and establishing a task team to look into issues that were raised by workers and members of the communities"
Phetoe said when the increase was raised with the minister, she took a hard line and shrugged off the concerns.
"This attitude from our own government leaves us with no option except to go back to the road and protest," he said.
The strike will go ahead with or without permission. "If there will be a Marikana let it be," said Phetoe.
He threatened that it may also result in blocking the road until the 2014 elections.
The country's road infrastructure requires substantial and urgent investment, Sanral chief executive Nazir Alli told The New Age last week.
"Sanral relies on the user-pay principle to maintain a high quality road network while contributing to improved road safety and generally shorter travelling distances.”
- Fin24
