CT toll project - Sanral waits for day in court

The South African National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) has chosen not to take on the City of Cape Town over the controversial N1/N2 Winelands toll project in the media, but to wait for its day in court. Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona told FTW last week that the matter was now considered sub judice and commenting on the project was therefore not possible. The controversial R10- billion project made headlines recently after the City was issued with a notice of intent by Sanral to re-introduce the toll project despite a previous undertaking to put everything on hold until a full review had been completed by the Western Cape High Court. This led the City to launch an urgent court application preventing Sanral from going ahead with the toll. The matter is set to be heard on May 16. Mona said Sanral would be filing opposing papers and was ready to take up the fight in court. The Winelands toll project received its Record of Decision in 2005 with clauses stating that work on the project had to start within four years of the issuing of the document. It was, however, re-issued in February 2008. The four-year deadline for construction to start ended in February 2012, which means that if correct Sanral will have to re-do the entire environmental assessment impact of the project taking them back to the beginning. Unless one has a Record of Decision, no negotiation with preferred bidders or any other steps can be taken. Mona said all of these matters would be addressed in due course in court. CAPTION Taking its toll... Johannesburg project moves forward as CT prepares for court battle.