QUESTIONS IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION 70
WRITTEN RESPONSE
Mr W.F. Faber (DA-NC) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:
(1) âWhether any action was taken with regard to the old ammunition at
93 Ammunition Depot in Jan Kempdorp, since the commission of inquiry in
2006; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details? CW120E
REPLY
1. Since 2006 all Condition B/C1/C2/D
(redundant/obsolete/unserviceable ammunition) that was still stored in
field storage were inspected, graded palletized and moved to identified
empty permanent ammunition storage magazines for further safekeeping.
Although there are still condition a (serviceable) ammunition at 93
Ammunition Depot, this ammunition is classified as redundant or obsolete
and the applicable disposal boards are in progress.
a. The empty ammunition storage magazines became available due to
the transfer of all serviceable ammunition from 93 Ammunition
Depot to the other two Ammunition Depots as part of the closing
down plan of 93 Ammunition Depot.
b. In FY 2006/2007 the demolition range (Bergspitz) which is
situated 36km west of 93 Ammunition Depot was re-qualified to
increase the daily range limit from 50kg (Nett Explosive
Content) per blow to a new limit of 1000kg Nett Explosive
Content per day. In doing this the capability to do conventional
disposal was increased to ensure that all critical unsafe
ammunition could be destroyed immediately.
c. Condition D ammunition (Unserviceable) that was identified as
critical unsafe was disposed of by conventional disposal methods
at Bergspitz demolition range as follows:
i. GV 5/6 Artillery charge systems (quantity 281) which was 25 %
of the unserviceable charges.
ii. Mortar bomb 81 mm HE that was stored in field storage
(quantity 1177) which is 100 % of the mortar bombs which was
stored in field storage.
iii. Shell 155 HE (quantity 700) which was 100 % of the 155 shells
which was stored in field storage.
d. As part of every FY 93 Ammunition Depot also executed the
planned demolitions as part of the risk reduction program.
i. GV 5/6 Artillery charge systems (quantity 811) which was the
additional 75 % of the unserviceable charges. This resulted
that 100% of the critical unsafe charges was disposed of.
e. As part of the risk reduction program all ammunition is
undergoing a life cycle surveillance inspection on a yearly
basis in order to detect critical unsafe ammunition to be
disposed of.
f. In 2008 an Inert Deforming Facility was developed and build by
Denel/Rhienmetal in Potchefstroom and was commissioned at 93
Ammunition Depot to deform inert ammunition (free from
explosives) and to be sold as scrap metal.
i. 12 tons of inert ammunition which is free from explosives has
already been deformed as planned. This is an annual ongoing
process.
2. a. The involvement of 93 Ammunition Depot with the Local
Government:
i. According to the DOD there was no formal investigation and
clarity in this regard was required. There is however a
continuous communication processes in place between the
Officer Commanding of 93 Ammunition Depot and the Local
Government to monitor and manage the situation. On several
occasions the Officer Commanding of 93 Ammunition Depot met
with the local Government of the area, twice with the
previous Premier of the Northern Cape, and once with the
previous Minister of Defence to discuss/briefed and execute
site inspections on the uncontrolled building of RDP houses
on the North Eastern side of the Depot (Valspan). The
process of building houses is still an ongoing process and
the encroachment is still a threat. The last meeting was
held on 23 September 2009 between the Officer Commanding 93
Ammunition Depot and the local Council on these issues.
b. 93 Ammunition Depotâs own initiative to minimize the Challenges:
i. All ammunition (first and fourth line ammunition) at 93
Ammunition Depot is stored in such a manner to minimize
damage to infrastructure and human live (in the Depotâs
safety zone) incase of an accident. There are also no
ammunition left in field storage and all critical unsafe
ammunition that could endanger loss of human life and
damage to infrastructure was disposed of. This management
of safe storage is however not possible any more due to the
fact that large quantities of people on a daily basis are
still moving into the safety zone of specific ammunition
warehouses on the North Eastern side of the Depot.
ii. Therefore the storage capacity of identified warehouses
nearest to the Valspan settlement has been reduced (by the
CSO Staff of 93 Ammunition Depot) to minimize the effect
(shock wave and shrapnel) of a possible primary detonation
of ammunition or the secondary explosion of a warehouse on
the local population (in terms of fatal wounds to people or
serious damages to infrastructure) in Valspan.
iii. This DOD is still highly concerned about the surrounding
development of RDP housing to the north eastern side of the
high security storage area of 93 Ammunition Depot. It is
once again confirmed that the safety zone distance for 93
Ammunition Depot is 2000m beyond the high security fence.
A large portion of this development is within the safety
distance of the ammunition warehouses and therefore the
safety of the people staying in this extension cannot be
guaranteed if a detonation in one of the warehouses
happens.
Response Originator
Name: Maj Gen Nkonyane
Appointment: C Log
Office Number: 012 671 0292
Cell Number: