NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 15
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 07 AUGUST 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6 â 2009)
Mr A Lees (DA â KZN) asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) Whether he has been informed of the extensive destruction of shrubs
in the median of the N3 between Heidelberg and Cedara; if not, what
is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether any action has been taken to prevent the destruction of the
shrubs; if not, why not; if so, what action;
(3) whether he will (a) investigate and (b) provide a possible plan of
action to prevent the destruction of the shrubs; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether the agreement with the N3 Toll Concessionaries permit them to
destroy this vegetation; if not; what is the position in this regard;
if so, what are the relevant details;
(5) whether any action is being or will be taken to ensure that the N3
Toll Concessionaries are held accountable for (a) destroying the
vegetation and (b) re-establishing the destroyed vegetation?
CW17E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has furnished me
with the following information:-
(1) The shrubs in the median of the N3 between Heidelberg and Cedara have
not been destroyed. The median shrubs are being removed for various
reasons, which, inter alia, include the improvement of sight distance
to ensure road safety, alien species which by law must be removed,
pedestrians or cars crossing the median and not being visible, at a
safe distance, to oncoming vehicles, exacerbation of runaway fires and
dangerous conditions for contractors pruning the shrubs alongside the
N3.
(2)Â Â Â There is no destruction of shrubs but removal and trimming as
per the reasons stated above under (1).
(3)Â Â Â (a) and (b)
The removal of alien species and trimming of certain shrubs is
conducted and guided by government policies â namely environmental
requirements - and therefore the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) is acting
based on the above mentioned reasons.
(4)Â Â Â Â The agreement requires that the Concessionaire (N3TC) provides
a safe engineered road and if median shrubs impede on road safety they
are to be removed.
(5)Â Â Â (a) As stated above, the Concessionaire is acting in terms of
the Concession Contract.
(b) Alien vegetation is removed and replaced with indigenous plant
species where it does not impede safe operations of the road.