1. (1) The Department of Transport cannot be held directly responsible for the number of fatal accidents on any road, since too many other bodies autonomously perform functions in this connection. No specific measures are therefore envisaged by the Department of Transport. It can furthermore be mentioned that traffic control on the relevant road is the responsibilty of the Municipality of Durban.
2. (2) Yes. Construction can only commence if and when agreement can be reached between the various parties concerned on the route to be followed and when funds can be made available by those parties.
3. (3) No.

Mr Chairman, in reply to the hon member’s question, may I indicate to him that I only referred to the city council with regard to the question of maintaining law and order on the road as far as traffic offences are concerned.

I have at my disposal figures of what the Durban City Council has done in this regard over a period of 12 months from 1987 to some time in 1988. It is quite significant that the Durban City Council has done quite a lot to see to it that those who are guilty of traffic offences are dealt with adequately.

They have for example dealt with 4 484 motorists for speeding and 64 for drunken driving and a total of something like 8 858 motorists for various motoring offences. I could mention them all, subdividing the various offences, but they have certainly taken action to see to it that as far as possible the offences on that particular road will be kept to the minimum.

As far as the other point is concerned, may I remind the hon member — and the hon member does have a point — that the application of the Group Areas Act has also affected where people are living. However, it does not only apply to a particular group — it applies to all groups in South Africa.

May I point out to the hon member that we are in consultation and that the hon the Minister has just recently written a letter to Councillor Pillay who is the chairman of the body dealing with this particular situation.

He said the following:

Mr Chairman, I have already indicated that we, as well as the hon the Minister, are prepared to help and assist the negotiating parties to see to it that this issue is speeded up.

Mr Chairman, the hon member should also be aware of the legacy with regard to the Stainbank Nature Reserve. As I view the situation, it is a legacy given to all the people of Natal and of Durban, and one should bear in mind that it is of course very difficult to change the provisions of that particular legacy. However, we are trying to get the parties together so that we can negotiate an access road which will be the least harmful to all parties concerned. This is what we are aiming at.

Order! The hon member must ask a supplementary question.

Mr Chairman, again, in reply to hon members, I wish to assure them that this issue is receiving the personal attention of the hon the Minister. If I could possibly add my personal attention to this issue as well, I will certainly do so and see whether we cannot speed up the process so that hon members will be able to get satisfaction. That is all that I can say at this stage. We have to get the people togther to talk to them. There are hon members in this House who are aware of the fact that both the hon the Minister and I have already spoken to them. We have also in the past held discussions with the Stainbank family and we are prepared, once again, to see whether we cannot settle the issue.

It is all very well to suggest that the Stainbank family are against people of colour, but at the same time — as far as I know — the reserve does not exclude anybody because of race or creed. [Interjection.] My reply to the hon members is that we will do our level best to give them all the assistance required because we know this is a serious issue that has to be resolved as soon as possible.

1. (1) Yes. The report has been referred to the Attorneys-General of Cape Town and Pietermartitzburg, respectively.
   1. (a) 3 February 1989.
   2. (b) The Commission recommended in paragraph 23(2) (page 87) of its report that the report be referred to the Attorney-General for consideration.
   3. (c) The report is at present receiving the attention of the said Attorneys-General.
2. (2) A statement is not necessary.

Mr Chairman, knowing the attorneys-general in South Africa, I presume they will give their undivided attention to the cases in order not to get egg on their faces.

1. (1)
   1. (a) In respect of Typists. No.
      In respect of Clerks. Yes, as follows: 1 Senior Clerk, Cargo Handling, Jan Smuts Airport;
      1 Senior Clerk, Goods Office, Durban;
      4 Clerks, Goods Office, Durban;
      1 Clerk, Goods Office, Johannesburg; and
      2 Clerks, Reservations Office, Johannesburg Station.
   2. (b) No.
2. (2) Yes. Specific requirements such as educational qualifications and performance in the phsychometric aptitude test are laid down for appointment to posts and subject to the existance of vacancies applicants are engaged on merit, irrespective of race.
3. (3) No.

I am not prepared to concur with that because — as the hon member would know — since 1982 the complement of employees of the SATS has been reduced by close on 100 000 people, of whom many are White people. We have indicated before, and I repeat it now: No differentiation is applied. It depends on whether there are vacancies, whether the people are available and whether they have the qualifications. If these criteria are satisfied we will appoint them regardless of race or colour.

That is the attitude of the SATS …

That is the attitude of the SATS. We are drawing no distinction whatsoever.

If the hon member looks at the Indian complement of employees in the SATS, he will see that this is very, very low indeed. However, provided we have the vacancies and so forth, there would be nothing placed in the way of prospective candidates from the Indian community seeking to be appointed to positions in the SATS.

Sir, if the hon member will put those questions to me in writing, I shall reply to them. However, I have not had notice as far as his questions are concerned. I would like to tell him, however, that there are about 1 500 Indians who are employed in various categories by the SATS. I am now talking off the cuff. I might be out by 20, 50 or 100. I cannot at this stage mention all those categories. These are the points and questions which the hon member has put to me and I am only replying to those.

Sir, this section deals with the employment of management in the SATS. I think they act according to their needs, regardless of race and colour of people, like any other business organisation would do in South Africa. I do not for one moment believe that even the private sector could be so prejudiced that they would deliberately exclude people of Indian origin. I am not prepared to believe that, and I do not believe that of the SATS either.

Sir, I agree with the hon member that the SATS has been a Government business undertaking in the past. However, at the same time it has had to apply business principles. They appoint people according to their need and depending on vacancies. That is their policy. I am not saying that that was the policy 15, 25 or 30 years ago, but it is certainly the present Government’s policy. It has been applied for at least the last five years.