Keep Cape Town freeways free of tolls‚ the city urges

16 August 2016 - 18:11 By TMG Digital

The City of Cape Town‚ in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA)‚ on Tuesday defended the judgment of the Western Cape High Court preventing the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) from tolling sections of the N1 and N2 freeways in the Mother City.While judgment is reserved‚ the City once again argued in the SCA that the process undertaken by SANRAL to declare portions of the N1 and N2 as toll roads was improper and unlawful.“Even though it is within the National Government’s mandate to determine how road infrastructure should be funded‚ the political decision-makers and public entities such as SANRAL are still obliged to follow due process and to act within the law‚” the City said in a statement.Speaking to TMG Digital‚ spokesperson for SANRAL‚ Grant Davison‚ said: “We do not expect the outcome of today’s arguments for a few days and will only then be communicating to the media after considering the verdict.”The City however‚ added that it remains opposed to tolling as a funding mechanism for the upgrading of existing roads and that it will take this fight to the country’s highest court if need be.“We are‚ however‚ willing and eager to work with SANRAL to find a solution for the infrastructural upgrades that may be required for the N1 and N2 freeways‚” the statement said...

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