The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) is joining those opposing e-tolling in Gauteng.
Sadtu’s general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, said as an affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), they support the efforts to oppose e-tolling.
Mr Maluleke was speaking following President Jacob Zuma’s signing of the Transport Law and Related Matters Bill last month.
“We also urge Cosatu and the alliance to fight for the provision of affordable and efficient public transport that will be a catalyst to economic development and growth. Unfortunately, this law is silent on the provision of efficient and affordable public transport. Instead, it is full of offers for discounts which do not solve the fundamental problem,” said Mr Maluleke. He added that e-tolling will not solve traffic problems.
“E-tolling won’t solve transport congestion problems. Instead, drivers will move to other routes that are not tolled, in residential areas and increase the congestion in those areas. E-tolls will also cause citizens to become poorer as they are asked to pay twice. Goods and services will be affected more as they depend on transport. When businesses increase prices on services and goods, the poor will feel the pinch the most,” he said.
He said that e-tolls will not be supported.
“People will not support something that brings no benefit to them. The entire process shows clearly that the citizens, more especially workers, were never taken to heart but treated as an after-thought,” said Mr Maluleke.
