31 Jul 2013

The total distance of gravel roads under the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ responsibility within the Southern District is 1 190 kilometres, Transport and Communications minister, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, has said.

Responding to a question in Parliament from Kanye South MP, Mr Abram Kesupile, Mr Molefhi said this excluded other un-tarred roads comprising 640 km of earth roads and 105 km of tracks.

The proportion that was maintained each year, he said, differed depending on the availability of funds for outsourcing maintenance as well as purchasing new equipment for the southern region.

During the current financial year, Mr Molefhi said, it was estimated that 30 per cent of the total gravel road network would be achieved.

Transport and communications minister also noted that the number of the key plant and equipment necessary for construction and maintenance of gravel roads in the Southern District without any outsourcing was: graders 15, water bowsers six, tipper trucks 12, bull dozers three, loaders/’JCBs’ three and rollers three.

Together with other support equipment, Mr Molefhi said these were considered sufficient to form 12 grading units and three gravelling units.

He also added that, “the volume currently available for use in the construction and maintenance of Southern District roads was three graders, three tipper trucks and one tractor-loader-backhoe that is TLB (‘JCB’).”

“All this equipment is aged and often suffers breakdowns, graders are between 19 and 34 years old and the tipper trucks are all older than ten years. The TLB has been under breakdown for about a year,” he said.

To replenish the old equipment, Mr Molefhi said his ministry was procuring 21 new graders with delivery expected by mid-October, three of which he said would be allocated to the southern region.

“We are in discussion with the Southern District Council to explore outsourcing work to them at commercial rates. This arrangement will provide additional capacity for outstanding maintenance works,” he added.

Mr Kesupile had asked the minister to state the total distance of gravel roads within the Southern District and the proportion that was maintained each year.

Kanye South MP also wanted to know the number of graders, water-browsers, tipper-trucks, JCBs and Rollers necessary for construction and maintenance of gravel roads in the Southern District and the volume currently available for use in the construction and maintenance of such roads. Ends