Slow drive highlights lack of public transport
JOBURG - Cosatu Gauteng, NASGB, National Taxi Alliance and the United Transport in Gauteng are embarking on a slow drive in Gauteng on 18 October.
The slow drive ended at the Sanral offices in the City of Tshwane just before 2pm on 18 October. Sanral regional manager Ismail Essa and spokesperson Vusi Mona received the memorandum handed over by Cosatu.
Essa said the memorandum would be passed to Sanral’s CEO, the board and minister.
The memorandum explained the expense of public transport, called for an end to subsidising Putco Company and protested against Sanral. “We would also be taking the battle to the Sanral offices which had abused more than R20 billion and upgraded the free-ways and in the process commodified our public roads without any consultation and engagement with the people of the province of Gauteng. We could call this action of Sanral as selling our public roads to the highest bidder and to monopoly capital without caring about our country and its people,” said Cosatu’s statement.
Many people used the slow drive to protest against e-tolls.
Marchers toyitoyed outside the Sanral offices before thanking the media for their support and then the slow drive dispersed.
18 October, 10am:
A statement from Cosatu said the slow drive is aimed at highlighting the lack of public transport in the country and in Gauteng in particular. This was part of public transport month.
The slow drive left from Cosatu House on Jorisson Street in Braamfontein and would take south Simmonds Street to join Wolmarans Street to the M1 north to Pretoria. They will then take the N1 north towards Polokwane and then join the N4 towards Emalaheni and offramp at Watermeyer/Lynburn roads and turn right to the Sanral offices.
A memorandum would be handed to Sanral offices and Cosatu said they would burn e-tags and Sanral bills that motorists had received. Cosatu called on community members who have received bills from Sanral to join the slow drive.
There were only about 50 cars outside Cosatu House by 10am on 18 October when the procession, led by Metro police, started.
This website’s journalist Simone Samuels is following the procession.
