Transport Minister Ms. Dipuo Peters held a meeting with the North West provincial secretaries of the ANC (Dakota Legoete) and COSATU (Solly Phetoe) in Pretoria to discuss issues relating to the Swartruggens toll plaza and the concerns raised by COSATU in particular.
The meeting received a report from the Swartruggens Task Team established by the Minister to look into the socio-economic impact of the Swartruggens toll plaza on the residents of the immediate surrounding areas who travel on the N4 regularly.
There was general acknowledgement that not sufficient progress had been made since the Task Team began its work.
The meeting resolved on the following as way forward:
- The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) will submit a report to the Minister on the feasibility study conducted on an alternative road that will run parallel to the N4.
- That a report on the impact of a possible reduction of the toll tariff from R71.00 to R20.00 will also be submitted to the Minister.
The meeting further resolved on the need for an awareness campaign to have motorists register on the local user discount programme to be championed by the Department of Transport, SANRAL, the NW Department of Roads and Public Works and supported by Cosatu, SANCO and the taxi industry.
Plans to expand the scope of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee’s SIP 4 to include tolling along the N4 were also discussed by the parties.
The parties agreed to meet again in a fortnight.
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