The City of Cape Town has welcomed today’s ruling against South African National Roads Agency’s (Sanral) plan to toll segments of the N1 and N2.
The parastatal has been ordered to review its plans for the highways, ruling that if Sanral wanted to proceed with the project it had to start from scratch by conducting a process that was supported by “proper public participation”.
“The judgment is a resounding victory for the residents of Cape Town and the Western Cape as this means that Sanral cannot go ahead with the Winelands Tolling Project,” said councillor Brett Herron, mayoral committee member: Transport for Cape Town, in a statement issued after Wednesday’s ruling.
According to Herron, the ruling has “significant consequences”, given the current economic climate. “This ruling represents the City’s second legal victory against Sanral and should send a strong message that Sanral has reached the end of the road as far as the Winelands Tolling Project is concerned,” he said.
He added that the ruling vindicates the City’s belief that the process undertaken by Sanral to declare portions of the N1 and N2 as toll roads was "improper and unlawful".
