SANRAL hits back at Cape Town mayor’s N2 ‘failure’ claims

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has responded to remarks by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who claimed the agency had failed communities living along the N2 highway.

The mayor’s comments come amid plans by the City to spend R114 million on its proposed “N2 Edge Project”, which includes constructing a security barrier along the stretch of road near the airport precinct.

There have been growing safety concerns because of crime, like smash-and-grab incidents, that frequently occur along or near that route.

In a statement, SANRAL Western Cape’s Provincial Head, Randall Cable, said it had not been consulted about the proposed wall, reiterating its previous comment to SmileFM that the section of the road falls outside of its jurisdiction.

“SANRAL wishes to put it on record that it has to date not been engaged by the City of Cape Town on the proposed security wall planned for the N2. Although the N2 is a strategic important national road in the City of Cape Town, the N2 still falls under three different road authority jurisdictions,” said Cable.

SANRAL clarified that different sections of the N2 fall under the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government, and SANRAL itself.

Cape Town freeway jurisdictions. IMAGE: SANRAL

SANRAL noted that the N2 from the city centre to the Raapenberg interchange (N2/M5) falls under the City of Cape Town jurisdiction; from the Raapenberg Interchange (N2/M5) to just before the Swartklip Interchange (N2/R300), including the Airport Approach Road, falls under the Western Cape Provincial Government (Department of Infrastructure); and from just before the Swartklip Interchange (N2/R300) eastwards to Somerset West falls under SANRAL’s jurisdiction.

“Although this can be confusing, road authority jurisdictions are crucial for establishing clear responsibility for the planning, construction, maintenance, and safety of road users and infrastructure.”

Cable, however, added that SANRAL does play a role in safety operations along the route, referring to the Western Cape’s Freeway Management System (FMS), which it executes. FMS provides daily monitoring of major freeways “to detect and respond to incidents on the freeways within the Metro” in Cape Town, the statement read.

“The FMS personnel work closely with law enforcement to respond to all incidents, including stationary vehicles, crashes and criminal incidents, and focuses on known hotpots,” he said.