The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) was still contemplating by late Thursday (23 May) afternoon whether to go ahead with a drive-slow protest against the e-tolling of Gauteng freeways.<\/p>\n
“We are still trying to get a decision on whether it will go ahead legally,” spokesman Patrick Craven said in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
“We are just waiting for a decision.”<\/p>\n
By 5pm, Cosatu\u00a0had failed to get permission for the drive-slow, planned for Friday (24 May).<\/p>\n
“Authorisation has not been given,” said Johannesburg metro police chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.<\/p>\n
Permission was not granted because at Cosatu’s previous motorcade, protesters had stopped and walked on the freeway, which is in contravention of the National Road Traffic Act.<\/p>\n
All law enforcement agencies would be on standby to ensure the protest did not go ahead on Friday, said Minnaar.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, the union’s Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile said it would embark on a go-slow drive to bring the province’s highways to a standstill against the planned e-tolling in the province. The planned motorcade was to be held on the M1 north, N1 south, N12, and M2 north highways in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
In December, the N3 highway was briefly closed when protesting motorists parked their cars sideways and started dancing on the road during a similar drive-slow motorcade.
\nElectronic tolling is due to be implemented soon.<\/p>\n
On April 11, the SA National Roads Agency Limited announced it would be rolled out within the next two months.<\/p>\n
In April last year, the High Court in Pretoria granted the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) an interdict approving a full judicial review before e-tolling could be put into effect.<\/p>\n
The interdict prevented Sanral from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of the review.<\/p>\n
Sanral and the National Treasury appealed the court order.<\/p>\n
In September, the Constitutional Court set aside the interim order, and in December the High Court in Pretoria dismissed Outa’s application to scrap e-tolling.<\/p>\n
On January 25, the court granted Outa leave to take the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein.<\/p>\n
The SCA hearing will take place in September.<\/p>\n
E-tolls needed for economic growth: Martins<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-toll to cost R200 on average: SANRAL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SANRAL wanted to warn motorists on e-tolls<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sanral not ready to launch e-tolling: Outa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n