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Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, today received on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government the COSATU memorandum in opposition to e-tolls.

Vadi said that the country’s constitutional dispensation allows citizens to participate in decision-making and collective action, either in support of government’s public policy choices or in opposition to these.

The very essence of democracy implies that people are to participate actively in policy and decision-making. Also, they have a definitive right even at this late stage to protest against the proposed e-toll tariffs. However, this right does not extend to any violence against persons and the destruction of any property, including any threats in this regard.

No person has the right to take the law into his/her own hands. Numerous and sufficient channels exist in our country for people to raise concerns and there can never be any justification for violence and lawlessness. Law enforcement agencies, therefore, will be called upon to ensure that those who break the law are dealt with appropriately and within the prescripts of the Constitution.

The Department of Roads and Transport will continue to interact with communities and other interested parties, including COSATU, on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. This is to ensure that people are informed about the measures that government is taking to build better roads and public transport infrastructure.

We, therefore, call upon leaders in all sectors of our society to provide the kind of leadership that will reinforce rather than undermine the gains we are making as a country.