The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is contemplating strike action against the Gautrain project, the provincial branch of the union federation said on Thursday.
Gauteng provincial secretary Siphiwe Mgcina told reporters that the project failed to tackle the most significant transport problems in the province.
He said the process leading to possible strike action, through the National Economic Development and Labour Council, would first involve an attempt to bring together the Gauteng government and Cosatu for talks.
If that failed, a national community strike would take place ”anytime before July”.
”That is why we’re calling for a comprehensive project [to] benefit everybody who will be able to use that transport mode,” said Mgcina.
”The most important system we need is thus a mass transit from townships into cities, as part of an integrated development plan which would see townships themselves becoming economic hubs over the next 15 years.”
He told the Mail & Guardian Online that the Cosatu alternative solution to the transport problem is that the government should utilise existing structures like Metrorail in Gauteng. Metrorail carriages must be upgraded, and safety on the trains ”is key”, said Mgcina.
By giving Metrorail a facelift, an opportunity to create more jobs exists, he said. Many people can also monitor coaches by closed-circuit cameras and ”that will increase jobs”.
”We should make them reliable and safe through the government,” he said
In a statement to the media on Thursday, Cosatu said: ”Broad consultation is required to determine how a transport project in Gauteng would benefit the poor. No plan has been suggested for dismantling this legacy of the apartheid city through cheap and reliable public transport from townships into cities.
”Gautrain instead prioritises reducing highway congestion when greater efficiencies are possible through introducing a mass-transit system.”
Cosatu commented that there is only one good idea about the Gautrain — that of having a dedicated bus service to provide a feeder system for the railway.
”But it is disappointing that the feeder system does not extend very far off the proposed route. This means that travelling from Kagiso, Soweto, Vosloorus, Soshanguve or many other townships means a taxi ride, maybe another train ride, and then on to the Gautrain. Three trips, three fares — which means that even if you want to get to Pretoria from Johannesburg, you will probably not be able to afford it,” read the statement.
”The yuppie living in Rosebank or Melville, however, will definitely be able to access the service, with one bus ride on Metrobus, and off to Pretoria.”
Gautrain spokesperson Barbara Jensen told the M&G Online that they have ”no comment at this stage” but will issue a press statement regarding the matter at a later stage. — Sapa