Cape Town steps up battle over tolls on N1, N2

The dispute between the City of Cape Town and the SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) over the creation of tolls on the N1 and N2 is heating up.

The city believes Sanral's claims that the municipality had not engaged with the minister of transport on time over the tolls are inaccurate.

On Tuesday, the city said it was declaring an intergovernmental dispute with Sanral over plans to toll the N1 and N2 between the city and the winelands. It said the process had been flawed and tolling these roads would hurt poor communities and the agricultural sector.

Sanral said it had been in consultation with the city about the project for nine years and the city had failed to raise any issues.

"During the Intent to Toll process, the City of Cape Town was given an opportunity to participate prior to the final decision being made by the minister of transport to declare the road a toll road," Sanral said in a statement.

"If the City of Cape Town was dissatisfied with this decision, it could have taken steps to review the minister's decision. This was not done."

Sanral also said the city had been consulted during the environmental impact assessment that was finalised in 2008.

The mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater, Brett Herron, said: "The city wrote to Sanral during the Intent to Toll process requesting that its concerns be addressed and stating that if this was not done, the city would consider legal action.

"Sanral's claims that the City of Cape Town was extensively engaged in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and that the city did not appeal the decision when they were entitled to, are also untrue."

Herron said the EIA had been finalised on September 30, 2003, but the city had appealed. "The appeal process was finalised in 2008 but the city's appeal was unsuccessful. However, the city was informed that... the socio-economic impacts of tolling (which are the city's primary concern) would be considered during the Intent to Toll process."

Herron said the city had formally declared a dispute with Sanral in a letter dated July 18, 2011, relating to issues which remained unresolved.

"It is incorrect to contend that there is no dispute," he said.

Cape Argus