City of Cape Town hopes Sanral toll battle is over

The City of Cape Town said it hoped a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling upholding an earlier high court decision effectively scrapping the Cape Winelands Toll Project would finally put the matter to rest.

The City of Cape Town said it hoped a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling upholding an earlier high court decision effectively scrapping the Cape Winelands Toll Project would finally put the matter to rest.

Published Sep 22, 2016

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Cape Town - The City of Cape Town on Thursday said it hoped a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling upholding an earlier high court decision effectively scrapping the Cape Winelands Toll Project would finally put the matter to rest.

“This victory hopefully marks the end of the City’s four-and-a-half-year legal battle to shield its residents against the socio-economic impact of Sanral-sanctioned toll roads,” the City said in a statement on Thursday shortly after the SCA ruled against the South African National Roads Agency Limited’s appeal of a 2015 Western Cape High Court judgment.

In that judgment, the high court set aside Sanral’s decision to toll portions of the N1 and N2, as well as the transport minister’s 2008 decision to declare the N1 and N2 as toll roads.

“The City of Cape Town has won every round in court since we launched our review application on 28 March 2012 to set aside the approvals that enabled Sanral to toll sections of the N1 and N2 freeways in Cape Town,” the statement said.

“I hope Sanral will refrain from wasting taxpayer’s money on further legal action. The City’s estimated legal costs have already reached at least R20 million."

Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona in a short statement said the agency respected the judgement.

“We will however study the judgement and reasons provided by the Court of Appeal,” said Mona. “Thereafter we will decide on a reasonable course of action to address the impact of the delay and the congestion which will result from an increase in road users and urban developments along this economic urban corridor.”

African News Agency

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