Question NW3874 to the Minister of Transport
06 December 2023 - NW3874
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)Whether she is responsible for roads in municipalities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) what are the reasons that gravel soil is being used against the wishes of the community on the R4 million road construction project happening between the Losasaneng and Gataote villages in the Greater Taung Local Municipality in the North West, which was meant to be a tarred road?
Reply:
1. Roads are guided by the Constitution, which states the “Roads is an exclusive” responsibility of National, Provincial and Local Government.
Therefore all “Road Authorities in South Africa have an obligation to plan, design, construct and maintain the road network, to protect the public investment in the road infrastructure, to ensure the continued functionality of the transportation system and to promote the safety of traffic on the road network. Authorities also have the obligation to provide a reliable, effective, efficient and integrated transport system that supports the sustainable economic and social development of the country”.
As part of the Transport Sectors contribution towards “Infrastructure Build that stimulates Economic Growth and Job Creation”, the programme of action for the roads infrastructure sector includes the implementation of road maintenance, construction, and upgrading projects. The activities by the Department include:
- implementation of a massive capital works programme by SANRAL; for National roads
- the strategic expansion of national road infrastructure (taking over of provincial roads by mutual agreement).
- extending support to provinces and municipalities for coordination of road refurbishment and maintenance, including the fixing of potholes as part of the Acceleration of Operation Vala Zonke. In this regard, the Roads War Room has been established with teams:
- assigned for Work-Flow allocations and to track and trace progress and/or facilitate (activate) assistance to Road Authorities;
- assisting with key project monitoring and oversight and coordinate intervention support of the following sub-projects - Adopt a Road, Rural Bridges, Grave Roads, Job Creation and Skills development.
2. The question was referred to the North West Department of Public Works and the provincial road that belongs to the Department of Public Works and Roads is road Z644 that links Losasaneng and Gataote villages who confirmed that this road was meant to be re-gravelled in September 2023.However, the re-gravelling never took place as yet, because the community declined the project and are demanding for a tarred road or block paving. As things stand, the matter is not yet resolved.