Dept’s projects not on time or budget – DA

set time frame.”

She stated that while the department had recently beefed up its senior management, the number of engineering professions had only increased from 44 to 46 during the 2016/17 financial year.

Hattingh recommended that the department cut back on inflated salaries for chief directors and non-critical staff and retain professionals.

She stated that the department required an additional R530 million to maintain roads.

“The shortfall for gravel roads is even greater and the department indicates that it would need approximately R13.6 billion to upgrade hightraffic gravel roads to paved standards.”

Hattingh added that farmers had confiscated the keys of a radioactive disposal truck, to protest against the inaction of government to address the dangers of the gravel road.

Hattingh indicated that the Northern Cape had 800 kilometres of asbestos polluted roads while only five kilometres per year could be rehabilitated, with an annual budget of R12 million from the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant.

“The department owes it to the thousands who have suffered due to asbestos-related diseases, and their families, to ensure that asbestos contamination does not leave a lasting legacy in the Northern Cape.”

She added that while the department had assets valued at R37 billion, it had not completed a custodian asset management plan.

ANC provincial secretary, Zamani Saul, noted the mass job losses in the mining and agriculture sector, where more pressure was placed on government to create more jobs through infrastructure devel-