SA stands accused!

South Africa’s intention
to change axle mass loads
from 9-tons per four-wheel
axle to 8-tons contradicts a
regional agreement signed
last year.
South Africa’s minister
of transport in May 2009
signed an agreement with
neighbouring countries
that 10 tons would be the
regional norm, even though
at the time the country
noted that it would not be
adopting the 10 tons at the
time.
“South Africa
definitely accepted the
recommendation for the
region that was 10 tons on
a single axle,” says Barney
Curtis, executive director
of the Federation of East
and Southern African Road
Transport Associations
(Fesarta). “And not even
six months later the
Department of Transport
announced its intention
to reduce axle mass from
9-tons to 8-tons.”
Curtis said while the
DoT had since admitted
that the notification of the
reduction in axle masses
and the removal of certain
commodities off the
secondary road network
was premature, the move by
the country was definitely
seen as a non-tariff barrier.
“We are in the process
of putting a submission
together which we will give
to SADC as we believe
South Africa’s move to axle
mass reductions is a nontariff
barrier that must be
addressed.”
In the meantime the
South African Road Freight
Association has also met
with the DoT and has also
put together extensive
legal documentation in its
attempts to prevent the DoT
from implementing the
reductions.