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South Africans march in mass protest at toll roads South Africans march in mass protest at toll roads
(about 1 hour later)
South Africans are marching in a day of mass protest over new tolls on roads between Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria. Tens of thousands of South Africans have marched in protest over new tolls on roads in what unions says is "the first warning shot" to government.
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 - and has threatened more nationwide rallies if it is not scrapped.
The Cosatu labour federation says the proposed system will hurt the poor. The ruling ANC says the impact of the road tolls on the poor are exaggerated.
The protests are also directed against the practice of labour brokering - when agencies hire workers on short-term contracts. The protests were also directed against 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), took place in 32 towns and cities across South Africa.
Cosatu says it expects as many as 100,000 people to join in nationwide. "We have come to here to fire the first warning shot," Cosatu leader Zwelinzima Vavi told marchers who brought the central district business in Johannesburg to a standstill for most of the day.
Sea of red "And in our chamber, there is still a lot of bullets."
The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says the streets of Johannesburg are a sea of red - the colour of Cosatu. 'Highway robbery'
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 was one of the biggest marches in recent years, and looked like the mass demonstrations against the apartheid system during the 1980s and 1990s, says the BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg.
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 atmosphere was good-natured, he says, with marchers singing, chanting and waving placards that read "labour broking equals modern day slavery" and "stop E-tolling, it's highway robbery".
"The tolls will put a burden on the poor," Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi told reporters ahead of the marches. Electronic tolling is planned for roads between Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria.
"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 tolls will put a burden on the poor," Mr 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."
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 the 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.
The ruling party said it has already responded to concerns that the tolls would hurt the poor by exempting from paying buses and taxi vans that carry commuters in and out of major towns.
South Africa's government has said it also capped monthly fees on the new tolls at $70 (£45) - but correspondents say commuters may already be paying the almost same amount for older toll routes.
Flexing muscles
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 one million people in South Africa are employed through brokers.
Wednesday's marches were also about Cosatu flexing its muscles, he adds, and showing the ANC (African National Congress) that although the two are allies, the union federation independently enjoys a great deal of support among South Africa's workers.
The ANC - which has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994 - has been criticised for not doing enough to lift more black South Africans out of poverty.
Unemployment in South Africa stands at about 40% and is much higher among young people.