The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the formal ending of E Tolls.  This progressive victory for the residents of Gauteng and in particular workers and ordinary commuters, marks the culmination of a hard won campaign led by the Federation, other progressive formations and ordinary citizens. 

COSATU supports the need to invest in quality public infrastructure, we disagreed with the funding model and in particular profiteering by a foreign company at the expense of working-class commuters. 

We are pleased that our efforts have borne fruit and alternative funding models will now be explored to shift the burden away from the working class. 

The Federation pays tribute to the critical roles played by the previous and current Premiers of Gauteng, David Makhura and Panyaza Lesufi, for listening to the frustrations of the citizens of Gauteng and responding decisively to the call to end E Tolls.  Their leadership and support has been invaluable.

We appreciate that government led by our ally, the African National Congress, was not afraid to show humility when the public objected and was willing and able to engage and accept that it had erred.  Governments and political parties elected to office will make mistakes like any other organisation, what is important is the ability to listen, to show humility, to reflect and to change course when needed. 

COSATU will continue to engage with the Provincial Government led by Premier Lesufi and National Government on alternative infrastructure funding models that will not burden the poor.

Issued by COSATU.

For further comment please contact:

COSATU Gauteng Provincial Chairperson Amos Monyela at 079 493 5002 or Provincial Secretary Louisa Modikwe at 082 297 2659.