JP Smith doesn’t understand uproar over City of Cape Town’s planned N2 wall

Cape Town Safety and Security MMC JP Smith said he does not understand the uproar over the city’s planned security wall along the N2 highway.

The city has come under fire for the more than R100 million project near informal settlements close to the airport.

Critics have accused the metro of trying to hide inequality from tourists travelling between the airport and the city.

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Smith said it's unfortunate that the matter is surfacing during the local government election season, suggesting some are using the issue for political gain.

He also pointed out that the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) previously built sections of the wall in areas including Delft and Macassar without public backlash.

The MMC maintains the N2 freeway has been the scene of regular attacks on motorists and said he cannot understand why anyone would think it is acceptable for a major route like the N2 to remain under threat from assailants.

"I do not understand how everybody thinks it's okay to have more than 90 pedestrian fatalities along that road. I don't understand how anybody thinks it's okay to have a porous border, where on that road, cattle that graze end up in front of vehicles causing horrific accidents."