By Obakeng Maje
Zeerust- The Congress of South African Trade Unions say they are highly disappointed with office of the Minister of Transport and the acting DDG of that office.

“It is on record that both the office of the minister and the office the acting DDG are playing delaying tactics. Since 2011 we have been promised that they are convening task team meetings to deal with the current challenges we are facing with the expensive toll gate of Swartruggens” Cosatu North West provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.

Phetoe said they have submitted memorandums since 2011. “We have been at that toll gate picketing, demonstrations, blocking the toll gate peacefully, since 2011 up to now, and we have been promised that the task team dealing with the expensive toll gate, the alternative road and the state of our roads in the North West.”

Cosatu said they are disappointed that dates of meetings are planned and then postponed just a day before the meeting. They say this has happened more than ten times. Phetoe said it is on this basis that they must now start being unruly for the minister to act.

“We are convinced that being peaceful protestors does not give government time to act on our demands. We have been very patient and respecting the office of the minister, not knowing that we are wasting our time, not knowing that we are talking to leaders who do not respect the views of our poor working class” he said.

Cosatu said at their last action or protest action on 21st Feb 2014, the office of the minister made promises that they will convene the task team meeting and that the toll will not being increased until there has been a meeting with COSATU and other stake holders.

The meeting was convened for 24th March and postponed to 16th April 2014 and then postponed further to 15th April 2014 until further notice.

According to cosatu, this is clear disrespect and being undermined by their own government.
“We call on all our members to take the action against the expensive toll gate seriously, as resolved in our last PSSC, that we will intensify our campaign against the e-tolling system, the expensive toll gate and labour brokers.”

“We are aware that we are punished for being peaceful, for being respectful to our government. We are punished for following the procedure of applying and following the Gatherings Acts” he said.

He said by then that they will go back to the N4 road and the expensive toll gate on (25th April 2014) from 13h00 until the next day.

“We now demand that the minister come and explain to the masses of the poor people and the road users why she has been treating us like kids for the past four years and why she is not able to respond to our call and respond to our memorandums”.

Cosatu call on all the people of the North West to start boycotting all the toll gates on the N4 road. Cosatu call on the people of Botswana who are using that toll gate almost every day that they must support them by boycotting the fees of that toll gate.

The alliance also call on all the taxi industry, all truck drivers and all farmers to bring their taxis, trucks and tractors to support their action against the expensive toll gate.

“We are pleading with alliance and MDM structures to support our campaign” he said.-TDN
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