Toll road fury turns to election issue

The SA National Roads Agency Limited notified the Cape Town city council two weeks ago that it planned to go ahead with new tolls for the N1 and N2 highways into the city. This was a reversal of a decision taken in March last year, when the Department of Transport indicated it would not seek tolling in the Western Cape.

Transport and public works MEC Robin Carlisle said the Western Cape government would support the city's opposition to the tolls.

"We don't know what we're getting and we want to know what the toll fees will be for the 30 years of the [concessionary] contract," said Carlisle.

Previous Sanral plans included the completion of a second tunnel at the Huguenot Tunnel; a tunnel underneath Sir Lowry's Pass on the N2; and a bypass to connect Strand to the N2.

Carlisle said he had spoken to DA leader and Western Cape premier Helen Zille about making the toll road plans an election issue.

"We will tell people that if you want toll roads you should vote ANC," said Carlisle.

The City of Cape Town has threatened to interdict Sanral from going ahead with its plans, saying last year's review application lodged with the Cape High Court had yet to be concluded.

A Cape Town mayoral committee for transport member, Brett Herron, said the council was concerned that Sanral would go ahead with the Winelands Toll Highway Project without the city or its residents having a "full understanding" of the financial implications.

"The city does not believe that Sanral has been transparent in its engagement with the city, and hence we will ask the court to compel Sanral to provide all information necessary. It is a matter of urgency," Herron said.

But Sanral head of communications and marketing Vusi Mona said the agency was simply implementing government policy.

There would be further discussions with Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille, but the Constitutional Court ruling on the Gauteng e-tolls confirmed the national executive's powers to implement its policy.