Let's talk, mayor tells Sanral
CAPE Town mayor Patricia de Lille has extended an olive branch to the South African National Roads Agency Limited, inviting the parastatal to find alternative ways to fund road upgrades other than the controversial tolling system. CAPE Town mayor Patricia de Lille has extended an olive branch to the South African National Roads Agency Limited, inviting the parastatal to find alternative ways to fund road upgrades other than the controversial tolling system.Since 2012, Sanral and the city council have been embroiled in a legal battle in the Cape Town High Court over the implementation of the proposed N1/N2 Winelands Toll Highway Project. The high court heard the city's application yesterday for the reviewing and setting aside of Sanral's decision. Various city officials, including De Lille, attended the court hearing while DA supporters protested outside. De Lille said the litigation had cost the city a substantial amount."We are hoping that the court will rule in our favour and bring this to an end," she said. "Sanral must then sit down with the city and discuss how we upgrade roads and what role the city must play . It's not necessary that you have to go the toll route. Look at what is happening in Johannesburg."Advocate Geoff Budlender SC, for the city, argued that over 30 years road users would pay between R44.9-billion and R48.9-billion in toll fees. Those amounts excluded value-added tax. But they could pay only R22.5-billion if Sanral opted for alternative funding methods. Sanral hit back in court papers, saying: "The simple truth is that, absent tolling, the much-needed upgrades that the city itself desires will not be effected at all."We could add that the city does not itself offer to contribute to the payment for the upgrades of the roads."Among the city's allegations against Sanral is that its CEO, Nazir Alli, took the decision to have the highways tolled without board authorisation. The city also claims that the tolls will cause disproportionate financial harm and hardship for poor communities along the highways, and that authorisations given by the transport and environment ministers are unlawful...
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