Question NW1048 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
08 June 2020 - NW1048
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Whether an assessment has been done by her department on the state of the fence along the South Africa-Zimbabwe border; if not, (a) on what date is it envisaged that an assessment will be undertaken and (b) is there an overall strategic plan by her department to deal with the repair, maintenance and construction of border fences in totality; if so, what (i) is the overall condition of the fence, (ii) are the particular hotspot areas that require immediate attention and (iii) is the total budget allocation for the repair to border fences in the 2020-21 financial year?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
a) Yes, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) informed me that an assessment was done for the +700km borderline fencing and patrol roads as part of town planning/ site clearance process for the integrated reconstruction of borderline fencing and patrol roads along the South Africa-Zimbabwe borderline.
b) Historically, the function to repair, maintain and construct border fences has been undertaken by various Government stakeholders which resulted in a fragmented planning for borderline fencing based on border incursion at the time A comprehensive approach to the entire border fencing scenario for South Africa is currently being informed as a priority by conducting a Site Assessment and Clearance, which will support feasibilities and the overall strategic plan to deal with the repair, maintenance and construction of borderline fences in totality.
(i) Based on the condition assessments undertaken during the site clearance processes, the overall condition of the borderline fences is considered poor and porous.
(ii) Yes, according to the assessment mentioned above done there are hotspot areas that require maintenance and replacement of fencing where there are illegal crossings. From historical reports, the other areas of concern have been agricultural fences around portions of Lesotho (to stem livestock theft) as well as a portion of the northern border with Zimbabwe, a part of the border between South Africa and Mozambique adjacent to the Kruger National Park as well as portions of border between SA and Swaziland (for illegal entry to South Africa).
(iii) The total budget allocation for the repair to border fences in the 2020-21 financial year is R 21 million.