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House of Assembly: Vol35 - MONDAY 8 MARCH 1971

MONDAY, 8TH MARCH, 1971

For written reply:

Appeals to Race Classification Board, 1970 305. Mr. L. G. MURRAY

asked the Minister of the Interior:

(a) How many persons appealed to the Race Classification Board in 1970, (b) in how many cases was the appellant successful, (c) how many persons were affected by appeals that were finalized and (d) how many appeals are still awaiting a hearing.

The MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR:

(a) 65
(b) 13
(c) 32
(d) 42

The figures given under (b), (c) and (d) are in respect of the number of persons given under (a).

Sinkholes in the Western Transvaal 308. Mr. E. G. MALAN

asked the Minister of Mines:

(1) (a) How many sinkholes developed in the Western Transvaal since 1st January, 1970 and (b) what was in each case (i) the date, (ii) the place, (iii) the extent and depth of the sinkhole and (iv) the extent and estimated amount of damage cause to persons and property respectively;
(2) whether any compensation was paid; if so, what amount;
(3) whether steps were taken to prevent a recurrence in the vicinity; if so, what steps.

The MINISTER OF MINES:

(1)
1. (a) As far as my Department is aware, 59 sinkholes developed in the Western Transvaal since the 1st January, 1970. Of these, 57 formed in the Bank compartment, whereas the remaining two developed in the Venterspost compartment.
2. (b)
  1. (i) to (iii). At the end a schedule is attached wherein particulars are furnished concerning—
    1. (1) the date on which, or, where the date is not known, the month during which, each sinkhole formed;
    2. (2) the place where each sinkhole occurred; and
    3. (3) the diameter or size, as well as the depth, of each sinkhole.
  2. (iv) As regards the damage caused to persons and property, it is pointed out that in accordance with an arrangement between the Government and the mines on the Far West Rand which are members of the West Rand Dolomitic Water Association, those properties which have been declared by the State Co-ordinating Technical Committee on Sinkholes to be unsafe due to the fact that sinkholes may possibly occur as a result of de-watering by the mines, are purchased by the said Association at prices mutually agreed upon. In order to deal with the exceptional cases where agreement cannot be reached as to price, machinery has been created for the determination of the market value of the properties in question by adjudication.
    As far as the Bank compartment is concerned, 54 of the sinkholes formed on farms and properties which have already been declared by the said Committee to be unsafe and which have been evacuated by the occupiers. The farms and properties in question have either already been purchased by the Association or negotiations for them to be taken over by the Association, are in progress. The remaining 3 sinkholes are located on farm land belong to the East Driefontein mine. Roads on which sinkholes developed had been closed to traffic before the time.
    With regard to the 2 sink-’ holes which developed in the Venterspost compartment, the position is that the sinkhole at the tennis court in the mining town of Venterspost claimed one life. The tennis court building which was located on mining property and which belonged to the mine, was damaged and later demolished. It is not known what amount, if any, has been paid by the mining company to the deceased’s next of kin. The second sinkhole occurred on farm land, but the Association had by then already entered into negotiations with the landowner concerned for the taking over of the property by the Association.
(2) It will be clear from the above that because of the fact that the properties concerned are already in the possession of the Association or the mine or are being purchased by the Association, the question of payment of compensation for damage caused to properties as a result of the sinkholes in question, did not arise. The prices at which properties are purchased is a matter for private negotiation and since my Department, as a matter of policy, does not interfere in such negotiations, the purchase prices in respect of individual properties are not known to it.
(3) In order that the maximum quantity of gold ore may be extracted from land within the compartments in question and so as to obviate a possible uncontrollable inrush of water dangerous to life, de-watering of the compartments is essential, and as long as de-watering takes place, the forming of sinkholes cannot be prevented. All possible precautions are taken, however, to ensure that potentially dangerous ground is evacuated timeously. Detailed gravitation surveys, followed up by drilling, are also being conducted in the mining town of Venterspost in order to detect the existence of possible structures similar to the one where the sinkhole occurred at the tennis court.

SCHEDULE
BANK COMPARTMENT
No.	Date	Location	Diameter or extent	Depth
1.	1.3.70	East of old Rodora road. North-West of Bank station	10’	7’
2.	8.3.70	Old Rodora road. North-West of Bank station	20’ x 24’	20’
3.	April, 1970	West of old Rodora road. North-West of Bank station	6’	7’
4.	April, 1970	East of old Rodora road. North-West of Bank station	7’	8’
5.	May, 1970	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	15’	10’
6.	May, 1970	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	12’	8’
7.	13.5.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	15’	10’
8.	25.5.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	90’	40’
9.	Between 1.6 and 7.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	32’	6’
10.	Between 1.6 and 7.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	15’	8’
11.	Between 1.6 and 7.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	15’	6’
12.	Between 1.6 and 7.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	22’	9’
13.	Between 1.6 and 7.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	17’	5’
14.	Between 1.6. and 7.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	18’	6’
15.	Between 1.6 and 7.6.70	North West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	40’	15’
16.	Between 1.6 and 7.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	30’	20’
17.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	30’	20’
18.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	55’	40’
19.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	15’	7’
20.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	15’	10’
21.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	17’
22.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	8’
23.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	35’	15’
24.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	10’
25.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	25’	7’
26.	Between 10.6 and 16.6.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	12’	6’
27.	3.6.70	West of Brickor railway line	50’	30’
28.	23.7.70	North of Brickor	30’	15’
29.	2.8.70	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	15’
30.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	25’	10’
31.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	30’	12’
32.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	40’	20’
33.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	7’
34.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	10’
35.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	25’	12’
36.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	30’	20’
37.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	10’
38.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	20’	15’
39.	Between 3.8 and 9.8.70	North of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	30’	20’
40.	15.8.70	Blaauwbank 278 I.Q. South-West of Bank station	66’	35’
41.	18.8.70	East of Bank station	96’ x 93’	25’
42.	20.8.70	East of Bank station	30	4
43.	25.8.70	East of Brickor railway line	50’ X 100’	50’
44.	September, 1970	North-West of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	6’	5’
45.	September, 1970	Near Bank Eye	25’	15’
46.	12.10.70	At old roller-mill. Bank station	50’	30’
47.	16.10.70	West of Bank station next to railway line	10’	Not measured.
48.	19.10.70	Next to road 89/1	30’ x 15’	20’
49.	19.10.70	East of Brickor railway line	50’	30’
50.	4.11.70	South of road P.111/1	114’ x 111’	70’
51.	9.11.70	South of road P.111/1	50’	150’
52.	15.11.70	South of road P.111/1	10’	50’
53.	27.11.70	East of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	40’	35’
54.	26.12.70	East of Bank station next to Wonderfontein Spruit	40’	50’
55.	22.1.71	West of Bank station next to railway line	30’	28’
56.	17.2.71	East of Brickor railway line	180’	40’
57.	24.2.71	South of road P.111/1	300’ X 70’	15’
VENTERSPOST COMPARTMENT
No.	Date	Location	Diameter or extent	Depth
1.	24.10.70	Venterspost mine tennis court	50’	40’
2.	28.10.70	Portion 77 of Venterspost 2841.Q	Not measured.	Not measured.

Concessions i.r.o. factory ships Willem Barendsz and Suiderkruis 352. Mr. J. W. E. WILEY

asked the Minister of Economic Affairs:

(1) Whether the Government has any intention of withdrawing the licences of the factory ships Willem Barendsz and Suiderkruis; if so,
(2) whether there is any legal obligation to award any compensation; if so, what legal obligation;
(3) what does the Government propose awarding by way of compensation.

The MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS:

(1) Consideration is still being given to the steps, if any, to be taken in connection with the concessions that were granted in respect of the factory ships the Willem Barendsz and the Suiderkruis.
(2) and (3) fall away.

Naturalization of immigrants 367. Mr. E. G. MALAN

asked the Minister of the Interior:

How many immigrants became South African citizens during each year since 1965.

The MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR:

1965	3 927
1966	5 764
1967	5 032
1968	4 591
1969	4 371
1970	3 394

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