Question NW2328 to the Minister of Transport
29 July 2022 - NW2328
Mey, Mr P to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What (a) operations is the SA National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (Sanral) and/or entities reporting to him conducting and/or have conducted from the property at 59 Schoeman Street Mokopane, Limpopo, (b) total number of employees of Sanral and/or the specified entities reporting to him work and/or worked at the specified property, (c) were the reasons to use the property and (d) division and/or entities reporting to him were responsible for selecting the site for operation; (2) (a) what process was followed to enter into a contract with the owners of the property, (b) who signed the lease with the registered owners and (c) what is the period of the lease and total amount of rental being paid; (3) what process was followed to change the land purpose from residential to commercial and did the owners of the property agree to the zone change; (4) whether rehabilitation was done at the property; if not, why not; if so, were the owners satisfied with the rehabilitation of the property; (5) whether he will make a statement on the matter
Reply:
1. (a) SANRAL is not conducting any operations from 59 Schoeman Street Mokopane, Limpopo. SANRAL appointed Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV (Contractor) through an open tender process on contracts R.518-020-2016/1 & R.518-020-2016/2 which started on 03 October 2016 and was completed on 29 April 2019. In terms of the conditions of contract, once appointed, contractors enter into private arrangements for the accommodation of their staff and for sourcing of offices from which they may execute the contract. In line with this approach, Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV established their site office at 59 Schoeman Street Mokopane, Limpopo. Since this is a private contract between the contractor and the landlord, SANRAL is not a party to the agreement signed between the Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV and property owners. Additionally, since this matter is subject to litigation under case number 9088/2021 in the High Court of South Africa (Limpopo Division, Polokwane), it remains sub- judice’.
(b) As indicated the contracts with SANRAL ended on 29 April 2019, and since SANRAL is not a party to the agreement signed between Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV and the property owners, SANRAL does not have the full details of the number of people who might have worked at the site. These details would be in the possession of Quality Plant Hire.
(c ) As indicated Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV established their site office at 59 Schoeman Street Mokopane, Limpopo for SANRAL projects R.518-020-2016/1 & R.518-020-2016/2. The reason for selecting this site would have been considered by Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV as a private entity. SANRAL has asked Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV for their input, but they have indicated that this matter is subject to a litigation under case number 9088/2021 in the High Court of South Africa (Limpopo Division, Polokwane) and hence they cannot comment on this matter.
(d) As indicated the site was selected by a private contractor Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV, and SANRAL was not involved in that process.
2. (a), (b), (c) SANRAL is not a party to the agreement signed between the Quality Plant Hire/Expectra 388 JV and property owners and can thus not respond to these questions.
3. It is our understanding that the lease between the parties allowed for the commercial use of the property. SANRAL further notes that changes in land-use will generally be managed by the property owner. In this regard, SANRAL has no further information on the processes that might have been followed for a change in land-use, if any.
(4) In terms of the records SANRAL has, there were no outstanding matters relating to the site that SANRAL is aware of.
(5) As the honourable member may be aware, SANRAL is an independent statutory company established in terms of the South African Companies Act and is governed by a board of directors with Minister of Transport being the sole Shareholder representing Government. Since the Board is the Accounting Authority of the Entity, the Board is in a better placed to make the necessary pronouncement at the opportune time in this regard.