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| South Africans march in mass protest at toll roads | South Africans march in mass protest at toll roads |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| South Africans are marching in a day of mass protest over new tolls on roads between Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria. | South Africans are marching in a day of mass protest over new tolls on roads between Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria. |
| A BBC reporter in Johannesburg says thousands are on the streets, in scenes reminiscent of anti-apartheid rallies. | A BBC reporter in Johannesburg says thousands are on the streets, in scenes reminiscent of anti-apartheid rallies. |
| The Cosatu labour federation says the proposed system will hurt the poor. | The Cosatu labour federation says the proposed system will hurt the poor. |
| The protests are also directed against the practice of labour brokering - when agencies hire workers on short-term contracts. | The protests are also directed against the practice of labour brokering - when agencies hire workers on short-term contracts. |
| The marches - organised by Cosatu (Congress of South African Trade Unions) - are happening in 32 towns and cities across South Africa. | The marches - organised by Cosatu (Congress of South African Trade Unions) - are happening in 32 towns and cities across South Africa. |
| Cosatu says it expects as many as 100,000 people to join in nationwide. | Cosatu says it expects as many as 100,000 people to join in nationwide. |
| Sea of red | Sea of red |
| The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says the streets of Johannesburg are a sea of red - the colour of Cosatu. | The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says the streets of Johannesburg are a sea of red - the colour of Cosatu. |
| It is one of the biggest marches in recent years, and looks like the mass demonstrations against the apartheid system during the 1980s and 1990s, our correspondent says. | It is one of the biggest marches in recent years, and looks like the mass demonstrations against the apartheid system during the 1980s and 1990s, our correspondent says. |
| Cosatu is flexing its muscles, he adds, and showing the ruling African National Congress (ANC) that although the two are allies, the union federation independently enjoys a great deal of support among South Africa's workers. | Cosatu is flexing its muscles, he adds, and showing the ruling African National Congress (ANC) that although the two are allies, the union federation independently enjoys a great deal of support among South Africa's workers. |
| "The tolls will put a burden on the poor," Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi told reporters ahead of the marches. | "The tolls will put a burden on the poor," Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi told reporters ahead of the marches. |
| "We're saying to the government, we remain open to talk to you. Call us, we will come running to find a resolution," he added. | "We're saying to the government, we remain open to talk to you. Call us, we will come running to find a resolution," he added. |
| The government upgraded existing motorways in and around Johannesburg for the 2010 football World Cup. | The government upgraded existing motorways in and around Johannesburg for the 2010 football World Cup. |
| It says the work was not free, and it now wants the electronic tolling system to retrospectively finance these wide and smooth roads. | It says the work was not free, and it now wants the electronic tolling system to retrospectively finance these wide and smooth roads. |
| The introduction of the tolls has already been delayed several times, after companies warned the fees would raise the cost of doing business. | The introduction of the tolls has already been delayed several times, after companies warned the fees would raise the cost of doing business. |
| Cosatu also wants to see the end of the system of labour brokering - which, it says, means workers get paid low wages and are not entitled to full employment benefits, such as maternity leave. | Cosatu also wants to see the end of the system of labour brokering - which, it says, means workers get paid low wages and are not entitled to full employment benefits, such as maternity leave. |
| Our correspondent says Cosatu estimates nearly 1 million people in South Africa are employed through brokers. | Our correspondent says Cosatu estimates nearly 1 million people in South Africa are employed through brokers. |