The Gauteng e-tolling saga has
provided a learning curve for other
municipalities across the country,
according to Brett Heron, Cape
Town mayoral committee member
for transport.
“The one lesson we can all take
from e-tolling the
GFIP is that there
must be engagement
with government
on what they are
doing. We need
to be alert to the
decisions taken
and how these will
impact our lives,” he
said. “In Cape Town
we have realised
that and have taken
steps to fight what
government, and
more particularly
the South African
National Roads
Agency Ltd (Sanral),
want to do. Another
important lesson for local
governments and city residents
alike is to pay attention to what is
happening and to act timeously on
that.”
Herron said thanks to these
lessons learnt Cape Town officials
had kept an eye on Sanral’s tolling
intentions and therefore had
managed to go to court before any
tolling project had even kicked off.
“Our challenge in the Western
Cape is very different from what
happened in Gauteng. Firstly our
roads have not been
constructed,” he
said. “The judge
in the Gauteng
e-tolling case clearly
stated that the
decision to decline
the appeal was
not based on the
merits of the case
but because it was
merely too late.
The roads had been
constructed, the
money spent and
the debt incurred.
In Cape Town we
don’t have that
same barrier to
overcome.”
He said while it
was not a simple slamdunk
case for the City, there was the
opportunity to present a case to the
courts that could prevent tolling in
the province.
INSERT & CAPTION
We need to be alert
to the decisions
taken and how these
will impact our lives.
– Brett Heron
