N2 Wall Project underway, despite opposition

Despite criticism, the N2 Wall Project will go ahead, with the first section expected to be completed in January next year.

CapeTalk's John Maytham spoke to Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith.

Maytham said he has mixed feelings about the wall. "I just can't wrap my head around the optics of this; keeping the poor people behind a high wall, hiding them. And I hear the arguments against that, that it's not about that but I still struggle to accept that this is the right thing to do. Exactly how long is it from where to where?"

Smith said there is documentation on the city's tender portal that shows sections of road around the highest accident and physical attack locations that would indicate where the wall will be.

"It's the sections where we're seeing the most incidence as plotted by the freeway management system cameras and statistics we have recorded with SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency Limited ) and SAPS (South African Police Service)."

Are you suggesting that it's not going to be one continuous wall? asked Maytham.

"No, it would have to be continuous to be effective but the areas where you start to build because you might not be able to conclude this in one financial year, the areas where you are starting to build are determined by your highest risk areas. It would be pointless to build in the area of the lowest risk. And the existing sections already built by SANRAL have stood up very well to vandalism and have stood up well to have proven effective in preventing attacks in the areas adjacent to those walls, in that they cut off rapid escape and therefore discourage attacks.

"I showed Accelerate Cape Town (business leadership organisation) the video of young children running out from between the structures, pelting cars with bricks and disappearing within seconds. And I think once you see that, you'll understand how next to impossible it is to prevent or improve safety there."

He refuted claims that the wall was an attempt to hide the structures there. "Because that in no way was in any way a conversation or a discussion point or the intention from our side. We have put a great deal of resources, operational resources to try and improve the safety of the commuters and the users of that road and we have now really placed as much on the table there as can realistically be placed on, or prioritised for that purpose, in terms of vehicles on the road, boots on the road, camera systems, et cetera. You get to a point where you need the additional element of physical barriers as part of a holistic crime prevention and safety improvement intervention."

The project will cost an estimated R107-million.

To listen to the full discussion, scroll up to the media player above.