Spat over missing Cape tolling documents

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has yet to hand over to Cape Town City officials documents relating to the proposed N1/ N2 Winelands toll highway project – as ordered by the Western Cape High Court. In May this year the City successfully halted the proposed tolling project when they were granted an interdict against Sanral in the Western Cape High Court stopping the organisation from taking any steps towards implemention. At the same time an interdict was launched and won, compelling Sanral to hand over documents that informed their decision to toll the Winelands route. Last week a city official told FTW that while the City of Cape Town had won the interdict no documents had been handed over to date. “We are expecting to head back to court soon in an effort to get the documentation,” said the official, who preferred to remain anonymous. “We must ensure that Sanral provides the City with the documents. The proposed toll roads will have a profound effect on the ability of people to travel in the region. As an administration that is committed to transparency and to creating an opportunity city in which investments can grow and jobs are created, we cannot sit back and have unilateral decisions made without consultation with the very people affected.” Cape Town mayoral committee member for transport, Brett Herron, has maintained that the tolling of the N1 and N2 through the Western Cape Winelands will have a major economic impact not just on the province but South Africa as a whole, saying it will affect the cost of goods in particular.