Question NW3834 to the Minister of Transport
06 November 2015 - NW3834
Grootboom, Mr GA to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What (a) was the budget allocation for roads in the Northern Cape and (b) are the guidelines that are used by her department in deciding whether to tar a road or not; (2) is she aware that the road to Vaalputs in the Northern Cape is in an extremely poor state; (3) is the spill of radioactive material on our national roads deemed to be a national disaster; if not, why not; if so, what disaster management procedures are in place in the event of an accident containing radioactive materials in the specified province; (4) whether the transportation of radioactive material to Pelindaba was communicated to local communities; if so, (a) when (b) by whom and (c) what measures are in place to ensure that the roads upon which radioactive material is transported is continuously maintained; (5) does her department have any plans in place to tar the road from Springbok to Vaalputs?
Reply:
1) a) I want to alert the honourable there are three different questions. Budget allocation for 2015/2016: Provincial Road Maintenance Grant = R822.4m and Equitable Share = R193.5m (including day to day running of the programme);
b) TMH22 is used for the first order analysis as a guideline.
2) Yes. Only few isolated spots has gravel wearing course thickness above 50mm, however, it is drivable.
3) All spills on national roads are deemed to be dangerous and depending on the effects can be declared as disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 ( Act No 75 of 2002). This may depend on the toxicity levels and the magnitude of such a spillage. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, together with the relevant Authority in whose area of jurisdiction that portion of the road fall may declare any emergency situation as a disaster. Provincial Departments are required to prepare disaster management plans for the entire province.
4) The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) is responsible for the enforcement and the safe transportation of the radioactive materials. Transporting and handling of radioactive material is regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator and not by the Department of Transport.
5) The road from Springbok to Vaalputs (MR740) appears on a first order list of needs for upgrading. The equitable share funding is not enough to address all the upgrading needs of roads in the Northern Cape Province. Only R60m/annum available from equitable share is for capital works. This allocation is committed over the MTEF period