Question NW578 to the Minister of Public Enterprises
04 April 2024 - NW578
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
What steps has his department taken to investigate the media reports on coal trucking mafias operating in the Richards Bay area and sabotaging the railway line so that the delivery of coal is diverted from rail to heavy-duty trucks; (2) Whether his department has reported the issue to the relevant authorities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) What (a) total amount of tons of Transnet’s coal was diverted from rail to heavy duty trucks (i) in the (aa) 2021-22 and (bb) 2022-23 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2023, (b) total number of trucks had to carry the coal in each financial year and (c) are the reasons the coal was diverted from rail to heavy duty trucks?
Reply:
According to the information received from Transnet:
1. This matter is subject of security risks under consideration of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) Workstream 7: Security and has been a focus area prior to the recent media reports relating to Richards bay.
2. The NLCC Workstream 7: Security is also recognised as a Priority Committee of the NATJOINTS and represented by the various Security Cluster Departments of Government. Transnet has reported this particular matter via the NLCC Workstream 7: Security.
(3) With reference to the volumes carried by road freight, the table below offers insight into (a) number of trucks and tonnages over the past three financial years (b) split per commodity type.
Table 1: Tons transported through road freight over past three financial years.
Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved/Comments
Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
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