Sanral has dismissed claims that the planned Cape Winelands toll project is "anti-poor".
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Cape Town - The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says the planned toll roads on the N1 and N2 will create close to 5 000 jobs and dismissed charges that the project is anti-poor.
Defending its decision to implement tolling, the agency said the project would boost the province’s tourism during the construction phase.
Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said 72 percent of the jobs would go to lower-paid workers.
“After construction about 600 direct jobs will be generated annually,” Mona said.
He said since the inception of the project Sanral had met local authorities 96 times and held 20 meetings with communities, including farmers.
“The upgrade of the N1-N2 Winelands route will be of great benefit to all communities in the region and will not impact negatively on poorer communities. Sanral views the upgrading of the road network as a major infrastructural investment which will lead to increased job opportunities and will also boost the economy in the region.
“This is in line with the government’s priority on job creation and the government-led infrastructure investment programme,” Mona said.
This as resistance grows to Sanral’s plan to toll sections of the highways in the Winelands.
On Monday, the Democratic Alliance announced it would mobilise residents against tolling while Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich also came out against the project, saying it would affect the poor.
While the two organisations worked hand-in-hand opposing e-tolls in Gauteng, its members marching together in protest, Ehrenreich said: “Cosatu (in the Western Cape) will not even consider running a campaign that may include the DA, unless the DA publicly states that they will stop defending the apartheid generational advantage of white communities, and will put in place programmes that ensure that public funds are spent to remove the huge inequalities between white and black areas as a matter of urgency.”
Ehrenreich said Cosatu would campaign to reduce the impact of tolling on working class communities, businesses and jobs in the affected areas.
It would also hold talks with Sanral over an “inadequate” participation process and would organise protest marches.
Ehrenreich said the DA still spent money to maintain the gap between facilities in affluent and poor areas, and that Transport and Public Works MEC Robin Carlisle should consider that regarding next year’s general election.
Premier Helen Zille said it was hypocritical of Ehrenreich to oppose the project publicly when the ANC caucus in the city council, led by Ehrenreich, voted against the city’s decision to fight tolls.
“As recently as two weeks ago, the ANC opposed the city’s plan of action to oppose the toll roads in a meeting of the portfolio committee for transport, roads and stormwater,” Zille said.
Asked about Zille’s statement, Ehrenreich said: “I can’t say I recall that happening. We would never do that. We have always been against tolling.” - Cape Argus