N2 toll road: Opposition grows

2003-12-11 14:25

Cape Town - Opposition to government's decision to go ahead and run a national toll road through a globally-recognised botanical hotspot on the Eastern Cape's Pondoland Coast continues to mount.

Following the release of the record of decision (RoD) last week, members of the public and affected parties have until January 2 next year to lodge appeals with the department of environmental affairs in Pretoria.

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) on Thursday said it was preparing a "substantial appeal against the proposed controversial 80km of the N2 toll road in the Eastern Cape".

Wessa's national director of conservation, Cathy Kay, said her organisation would be asking for an extension to the appeal period.

"One can only question why the department issued the RoD over the holiday season. They know academic institutions and many companies close over this period.

"Once again the department has shown a complete lack of sensitivity and transparency in dealing with the South African public on sensitive environmental issues."

Pondoland's rural communities were now voicing their anger about being "left out of the loop", she said.

The King and Queen of Pondoland, who are also appealing against the N2 toll road, last week described government's approval of the new route as "painful".

King Justice Mpondombini and his wife Queen Lombekiso were reported as saying the livelihoods of about a million people in Pondoland would be destroyed by the road.

Kay said many big companies in the Durban Metro were also filing objections.

"The Natal South Coast will be faced with three extra tolls and six off-ramps, which is going to impact on the pocket of those travelling to work everyday.

"These funds will be used to construct the suspension bridges that will cut through South Africa's global botanical hotspot, and cost the South African taxpayer R1.9bn."

Kay said the RoD was "extremely weak, lacks insight and any strong conditions".

"Another source of concern was that upgrading of the road had already commenced months prior to the issue of the RoD.

"(The department) has consistently turned a blind eye to this, which indicates that there is no political will to implement the law of the country," she said.

- SAPA