N2 Toll Road Resolution To The Minister of Environmental Affairs,
The Hon. M.V. Moosa
Taken At A Public Meeting In Kokstad 8th September 2003

At a public meeting of Eastern Cape and East Griqualand residents held in
the Kokstad Town Hall on 8th September 2003 the following resolution was
unanimously passed:

WHEREAS we recognize the Government's commitment to bring development to the
impoverished regions of the Eastern Cape;

AND WHEREAS we endorse the upgrading of roads and the development of
communication infrastructures;

WE ARE NEVERTHELESS CONVINCED:
1. That the proposed N2 toll road between Lusikisiki and Port Edward will
not benefit the local people and will be highly detrimental to the
established communities of the Eastern Cape and East Griqualand;

2. That the motive for this road is not for the development of the local
people and communities but profits for big business, notably engineering,
trucking, mining and finance corporations;

3. That the essential practices of democracy are being undermined by this
project;

4. That it would be quite immoral of the government to spend R1.9 billion
(or whatever the cost is) of taxpayers money to pay for two suspension
bridges, so that a private consortium can then levy the public on a toll
road;

5. That taxpayers money should be used for training and development of local
people and not for the economic benefit of national and multinational
corporations;

6. That neither the proposed toll road nor the possibility of mining will
bring meaningful employment nor sustainable opportunities for economic
upliftment to the local inhabitants of the Eastern Cape. On the contrary, it
could have disastrous effects on established businesses;

7. That both the mining and the road will irreparably destroy the ecotourist
potential of the Pondoland Coast;

8. That both the mining and road will endanger and even destroy a quite
unique botanical region. It is impossible to rehabilitate the botanical
diversity found there;

9. That since the Pondoland Wild Coast is a global botanical hotspot with
180 known plant species that occur nowhere else in the world, and its quite
exceptional features include three major and five smaller waterfalls that
tumble straight into the ocean, the Government's responsibility is to
protect and preserve this unique area for our children;

10. That the Pondoland Wild Coast, and certainly Mkambati, is so exceptional
it should be granted the status of a World Heritage Site;

11. That the government should clearly explain to the public of the towns in
the region how they foresee this road bringing economic benefits to the poor
and the general public that an upgrading of the present roads will not
achieve.

WE THEREFORE RESOLVE TO REQUEST THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, THE
HON. M V MOOSA, TO:

1. Reject the Wild Coast Consortium's unsolicited bid to build the N2 Toll
Road through the "greenfields section" alongside the proposed Pondoland
Park;

2. Reject any attempts to mine in the area proposed for the Pondoland Park;

3. Upgrade the present roads and build sensitive and discrete roads for
ecotourist development instead of destructive motorways;

4. Explore alternative routes for the N2 and consult local communities
regarding the development of roads;

5. Spend public funds on upgrading existing roads and developing people
rather than paying for two costly bridges for private companies;

6. Establish the Pondoland Park as a matter or urgency;

7. Declare the proposed Pondoland Park a World Heritage Site.