The North West Provincial Government is concerned that an earlier agreement reached on reduction of the toll fee at the Swartruggens Toll gate on the N4 Bakwena Platinum Highway from R71 to R58 has not been honoured and that instead the fee has increased to R75.
The Executive Council (Exco) in its meeting held on Wednesday resolved that its dissatisfaction regarding non-implementation of the agreement should be pursued with the Minister of Transport.
Exco also expressed a concern regarding rebates for locals which seemed not to have been implemented.
The provincial government had facilitated an engagement with Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the Department of Transport, South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality and Bakwena Toll to resolve an impasse between Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and Bakwena Toll on the price of the toll fee charged at the Swartruggens Tollgate.
The intervention had followed two memorandums which were presented to the MEC for Public Works, Roads & Transport, MEC Raymond Elisha by COSATU alleging that the toll fee charged at the tollgate were exorbitant, added an additional financial burden carried by the impoverished in the area and perpetuates exclusion as no alternative routes are provided for those who cannot afford it.
Fast tracking construction of alternative routes, continuous and consistent maintenance of the toll road and accountability for contribution of Bakwena’s Corporate Social Investment programme were some of the issues that the provincial government had taken up with the key stakeholders before agreement was reached to reduce the toll fees.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
Email: LKgwele@gmail.com
