Question NW2515 to the Minister of Transport
17 July 2023 - NW2515
Khoza, Mr AV to ask the Minister of Transport
In light of the report that the Republic has a total of 331 909 kilometres of roads spanning rural tracks, gravel roads, tarred roads, highways and freeways, what (a) total number of the roads in the Republic are tarred and (b) is the Government’s plan to have the untarred roads tarred, in order to facilitate human and vehicular?
Reply:
South Africa has a total road network of 750 000 km. The responsibility for building and maintaining the network is shared amongst SANRAL, Provincial and (Municipalities) Local government authorities.
(a) 159 272 Paved Network within the Republic 21% and 590728 gravel road 21%.
(b) Government to address funding requirements, the Department, together with SANRAL and CSIR are leading the use/piloting of the Nano-Technology based product to be showcased in KZN on 29 June 2023 to demonstrate the use of traditionally available stabilizing agents such as bitumen emulsions at much lower application rates, achieving improved strength characteristics and more water-resistant layers on gravel roads at lower unit costs. The nano-technology based product/material has potential to reduce surfacing costs by >50%. We are also embarking on a process that includes the transfer of the strategic roads by Provinces to SANRAL heighted operation Vala Zonke