Johannesburg - Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele has
instructed the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to
halt all road project processes related to the tolling of national
roads.
He is of the view that consultative processes
should be allowed to offer concerned parties an
opportunity to share their views on the toll road programme.
While he believes the country requires good road
infrastructure to meet its economic growth targets, he said
this should not put a huge financial burden on the shoulders of
consumers.
He said while the first phase of the Gauteng Freeway
Improvement Plan has delivered good road infrastructure, it was an
expensive exercise that has drawn sharp views from the public.
"All spheres of government should be part of a
consultative process with all affected parties, consumers in the main.
Good infrastructure is a necessity for a better future for our country,
but this requirement must not leave our people even poorer," says Ndebele.
The cabinet recently appointed a task team that includes Ndebele and Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan to look into the issue of
toll roads.
Ndebele said all these processes, including a
consultative processes initiated by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature,
should be allowed to reach their logical conclusions to ensure that all
parties concerned and their respective views are brought on board.