8
8 March 2013
Bulletin
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New toll tariffs
Letaba fire week training There are still a lot of space available for the Letaba Fire Protection Association’s management training from 15 – 18 April at the Letaba Show Grounds. This training focuses on fire management and includes three levels of management: single resource leaders including foremen, supervisors and drivers. Secondly there are the initial attack incident commanders which include farmers, foresters and skit unit drivers. Thirdly: the Incident Commanders Training and includes senior mangers, disaster managers and support staff and administrators. This training is open to anyone and is not limited to FPA members only. The training will end with sand box live simulation. The LFPA recognized the incredible contribution that Farmers, Foresters and Workers have made in the combat of fires in our area. Whilst the LFPA consider themselves to be good fire fighters they do not believe they are always good fire managers, especially when the fire goes on into the “second shift” when they have run out of fresh resources and everyone is tired. Along with an experienced team of trainers from the Working On Fire Training Academy in Mbombela, the LFPA was also able to secure a trainer from America. Application forms are available on the LFPA’s website at www. letabafire.co.za/fireweek.html or at local business’ or contact Maritza on 082 304 9162. Early payments qualify for discounts.
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Beginner farmers are on a roll The long awaited Nguni Herd, consisting of fifty registered Heifer cows in calf by the Maitjene Community Development Trust (MCDT) at Ofcalaco, was received from the IDC Nguni Trust, the University of the North and the Department of Agriculture. The board of trustees of the MCDT said this founding herd will form the basis of a well managed registered herd of about 250 heads, that will eventually be accommodated on the farm Harmony 3. It is foreseen that this herd will also be a source of new genetic material, which will be re-introduced into the greater communal herd. The board also confirmed that twenty rental contracts have been entered into with community members that intend to farm with either cash crops or chickens. The board said they wish to applaud these bold members of the community with their positive outlook and support of the efforts of the board. The next step in this process is that the actual alloca-
tion of the five hectare plots will be done once the board has been able to ensure that enough water for the various operations is available. Additionally, infrastructure such as toilets will be erected on the identified sites. Staff from the Department of Agriculture has assured the board that no stone will be left unturned, in order to ensure that these projects stand the best possible chance of success. The board has furthermore decided to start planting cash crops on a portion of Luxemburg 09. This will be done under a contract with a local packing facility, and it is envisaged that planting will commence by the beginning of April. The planning of this open field planting is done in such a way that, when the
funding for the Net Housing Project becomes available from the Recapitalisation Fund, the transfer can be done seamlessly. Some aspects that will need urgent attention are the purchase and installation of suitable borehole pumps, re-connecting to the Eskom power grid and job opportunities. The net income from this project will go a long way towards ensuring the long-term stability of the Trust and its beneficiaries. Community members are advised that the board has not yet called for a community information meeting during the past two months. In future, community meetings will be advertised in the local press, in order to ensure that all members have access to the information.
As from yesterday (7 March), motorists travelling south along the N1 will have to fork out a little more in toll fees due to the SA National Road Agency Limited’s (Sanral) annual toll tariff adjustment. This annual adjustment is effective on all national toll routes in the country. The tariffs are adjusted in accordance with the preceding twelve months’ consumer price index (CPI). “Funding for the national road network is decided in the context of all other pressing demands on the fiscus. Given this challenge on the fiscus and the fact that SA’s road infrastructure requires substantial and urgent investment, Sanral thus relies on the user-pay principle to maintain a high-quality road network, while contributing to improved road safety and generally shorter travelling distances. This also results in substantial savings on vehicle running costs. The toll principle also allows us to preserve and provide infrastructure sooner than tradition-
al tax-based revenues would allow,” said Nazir Alli, chief executive officer of Sanral. The new toll tariffs are (old tariffs in brackets):
• For the Baobab toll plaza, the rate for all light vehicles (Class 1) is R32 (R31) and R88 (R83) for two-axle heavy vehicles (Class 2). For threeand four-axle heavy vehicles (Class 3), the new toll tariff is R121 (R115) and R146 (R138) for five- and more-axle heavy vehicles (Class 4). • The new toll tariff for Class 1 vehicles at the Capricorn toll plaza is R33 (R32), R92 (R87) for Class 2 vehicles, R107 (R102) for Class 3 vehicles and R135 (R127) for Class 4 vehicles. • At the Nyl toll plaza, the new tariff for Class 1 vehicles will be R42 (R39), R78 (R74) for Class 2 vehicles, R95 (R89) for Class 3 vehicles and R127 (R120) for Class 4 vehicles. • The new toll tariff for Class 1 vehicles at the Kranskop toll plaza is R32 (R31), R82 (R78) for Class 2 vehicles, R110 (R104) for Class 3 vehicles and R135 R128) for Class 4 vehicles. • At the Carousel toll plaza, the new toll tariffs will be R40 (R38) for Class 1, R108 (R102) for Class 2, R119 (R113) for Class 3 and R138 (R130) for Class 4, while the new tariff at the Pumulani toll plaza will be R8,50 (R8) for Class 1, R22 (R20,50) for Class 2, R25 (R24) for Class 3 and R31 (R29) for Class 4. — LiN Media/Zoutpansberger