Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy President and hon members, hon Bhengu has told us to go to hell, and we are looking forward to that trip. [Laughter.] The Bill before us today deals with the controversial Electronic Tolling Collection system of roads in the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. E-tolling has received massive public resistance. The people of Gauteng have mounted campaigns against the e-tolls. This occurred despite government's pledge of R5,8 billion, which was intended to cushion the blow of this project to motorists by lowering the tariff prices.
We have listened carefully to both sides of the argument, but we must confess to being puzzled by the role of Cosatu in this saga. Cosatu has been strongly contesting the controversial e-tolling system and the harsh impact it will have on motorists, yet it has benefited from the project through its investment arm, the Kopano Ke Matla Investment Company (Pty) Ltd, to the tune of R24 million. The same Cosatu has been encouraging people to engage in anarchy through their marches against the tolls, and threatening to remove the gantries.
We are not convinced that Cosatu, a tripartite alliance member, was not aware that the roads in question were going to be tolled when its investment arm got involved in the project. We are of the opinion that Cosatu's actions are part of a bigger power struggle between the ruling party's investment arm as well as Cosatu's investment arm as to who would receive what share of government business. The UDM will not allow itself to be used in the internal battles of such an exercise. We therefore call on government to hold further consultations with the public on this matter.
Mam'uBhengu ohloniphekileyo, kunyaka ophelileyo sasilapha, we endorsed iBhajethi kaMphathiswa wezeziMali, sonke futhi apha kule Ndlu, kuquka uCosatu. Kodwa u-ANC eLuthuli House noCosatu bahlaze aBaphathiswa benu bathi banesabo isicwangciso saze sarhoxiswa esi sicwangciso. Awukasixeleli ukuba baxabana ngantoni na. Ndiqinisekile ke ukuba yile nto kaChancellor House nale investment kaCosatu nokuba ngubani oza kutya kakhulu. Musani ukudlala ngathi. [Ixesha liphelile.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Hon Mrs Bhengu, we were here last year, we endorsed the budget of the Minister of Finance, everyone present in this House today, including the Cosatu. But the ANC from Luthuli House and Cosatu have made a mockery of your Ministers by claiming that they have their own plan, and then this plan was withdrawn. You have not yet told us what the cause of their conflict is. I am sure it has to do with the issue of who is going to benefit more between the Chancellor House and the Cosatu investment. Please do not waste our time. [Time expired.]]