R2K Statement: SANRAL refuses to lift the veil of secrecy

Issued by R2K Western Cape

R2K Western Cape rejects SANRAL’s refusal to allow even limited transparency in the matter of proposed e-tolls in the Western Cape.

After the Right2Know Campaign, Section 16 and ODAC intervened today, it appeared that the parties would compromise on releasing a redacted version of the court papers – withholding information that SANRAL and PPC allege is commercially confidential. This would at least give the public a foot in the door.

The other parties – all the relevant national and provincial ministers, the City of Cape Town and Protea Parkways Consortium (PPC) – are not opposing the release of a redacted version. But SANRAL has refused to agree to this compromise. This leaves SANRAL isolated in its insistence on unjustifiable secrecy.

In the meantime, the hearings will continue in secret.

E-tolling will have serious effects on all residents of the Western Cape, especially the poorest of the poor. This matter can’t be dealt with in secret.

The people of the Western Cape need to stay vigilant and ensure that e-tolling does not slip under our noses like it did in Gauteng. We want to know how much will be spent on e-tolling upgrades, how much it would affect ordinary people, and which companies are getting rich from e-tolling. The public has a right to know!

We say, lift the veil of secrecy on e-tolls! No secret court hearings, no secret court papers!