Gautrain and e-tolling 'for the rich'
2012-05-02 08:14
Johannesburg - The Gautrain and the e-toll system in Gauteng do not help the transport problems of the country’s workers or the poor, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a Free State Workers Day rally, Nzimande said these projects were essentially directed at making profits at public expense.
“Billions were spent to benefit the rich. The Gautrain does not go into the townships of Gauteng… or Botshabelo for that matter.”
The SACP leader urged the government to never again invest in any project if it would not benefit the poor.
Nzimande said any development should first stand up against the country’s key developmental priorities such as jobs and removing inequality and poverty.
Guard against corruption
He also urged the worker unions to guard against corruption within the leadership of unions.
Nzimande said there were businesses in the country that sought to corrupt worker leaders in order to grab workers' money, worth billions.
The SACP leader also touched on the media and its role in the debate of the leaderships issues of the tripartite alliance.
Nzimande said the media had selected some leaders and made them heroes which in turn attacked the alliance parties.
He said the false debate on the ANC’s leadership issues in the media was aimed at weakening and dividing the alliance.
- SAPA
