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Date : 17/03/2005
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Mhlahlo: Eastern Cape Transport Prov Budget Vote 2005/2006


Transport Policy Speech for 2005/6 Financial Year, delivered by MEC Thobile Mhlahlo, Legislature

Madam Speaker
Premier Mrs Nosimo Balindlela,
Honourable Members of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
People of our province and our country
Ladies and Gentlemen

“The moving link to freedom”

A decade ago, we adopted the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) as the policy we would use to pursue the broad objectives contained in the “People’s Document” – the Freedom Charter, which we are celebrating its 50th year.

As we enter the second decade of our freedom, we recognised the fact that for any thriving economy an efficient transport system underpins the development of that economy.

Madam Speaker, we have seen remarkable success in opportunities presented to our people through the programmes of the Department of Transport in the Province, which I will elaborate on later.

The disparities in place before 1994 in the Transport sector created a first and second economy through systematically marginalising black people, especially in the rural areas.

The challenge still remains towards improving our rail and road infrastructure as outlined in the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP), together with our public transport system.

Madam Speaker, before presenting our policy framework for the year ahead, let me comment briefly on our progress over the past financial year.

In our moving back to rail, the Cabinet of the Province has endorsed the Kei Development Corridor as a catalyst that represents an integrated development plan to stimulate and sustain socio-economic growth and development in the Eastern Cape.

As a major boost to the economic growth of the Eastern Cape and contributing to job creation, so far this project has generated the following spin-offs:

* To date, we have employed 1400 local people compared to last year’s 773, which indicates a growth of almost 100% within this corridor. Of this figure, 40% is women, 15% youth, and 1% disabled persons
* An amount of R28 million was spent on the continuation of the refurbishment of the Kei Rail line in the last financial year.

With regard to supporting the bus passenger transport industry, the following has been achieved:

* Providing 104 contracts to small bus operators in the former Transkei to provide transport to approximately 1.4 million people, predominantly in the rural areas to a total of R18.2 million
* Supported Mayibuye Transport Corporation to transport passengers in the former Ciskei and Border areas to an amount of R24.4 million. About 2.2 million passengers have been transported. As the department’s commitment to the people of the Eastern Cape, we will continue supporting Mayibuye Transport Corporation until the conclusion of its restructuring process and ensure that this process does not hamper service delivery
* Continued with the management and administration of the interim contract with Algoa Bus Company in the Nelson Mandela Metro, which transported approximately 16.3 million passengers during the year. This company is subsidised by National Department of Transport to an amount R76 million.

In the field of Civil Aviation, I am glad to report that the Mthatha Airport is fully functional and is now compliant with the Civil Aviation Authority safety standards. It has since seen a 23% increase in its passenger flow.

As part of contributing to skills development programme, the department has:

* Trained 85 staff members on the ABET programme, of which nine (9) have graduated from ABET and employed as clerks
* Initiated a pilot project focusing on Maths and Science targeting 100 previously disadvantaged learners at a cost of R400 000 in partnership with the Port Elizabeth Technikon. An annual business lunch raised an amount of R80 000 to drive the project in this area. This year will see this programme being expanded to the Nkonkobe and King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipalities in partnership with the University of Fort Hare and UNITRA (Now known as the Walter Sisulu University for Science and Technology)
* Bursaries worth R520 000 were awarded to 15 learners to advance their studies in information technology, civil aviation and other transport related studies. Internships have been offered to 12 people, of which 10 have since been employed permanently as traffic officers
* An initiative funded jointly by the Department and Transport Education and Training Authority has seen 10 matriculants from predominantly disadvantaged areas doing learnerships on Freight Handling Logistics.

With regard to the recapitalisation of the taxi industry:

* A successful provincial indaba attended by all taxi bodies was held to explain the Taxi Recapitalisation Project to the industry
* Held capacity building workshop for more than 200 mini-bus taxi drivers, owners and rank marshals on generic business administration, customer care and defensive driving. This initiative aims to prepare the industry for the recapitalisation project, which will commence in the new financial year.

In contributing to infrastructure development of the transport industry, an amount of R13 051 000 was transferred to local authorities to construct public transport facilities like bus shelters, taxi rank facilities and ablution facilities, particularly in the more rural areas.

We have once again managed a successful Arrive Alive Campaign in the Summer Holiday. This can be attributed to the successful coordination and integration of our law enforcement agencies such as Provincial and Municipal traffic officers, South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Emergency Services.

In realising the principle of co-operative governance, joint operations were held with the Western and Northern Cape Provinces.

Awareness and education campaigns focussing on rural areas were conducted in Ntabankulu, Tsomo, Engcobo, Mzimkhulu, Tsitsikama (Blue Lillies Bush) etc. Successfully implemented the Pedestrian Safety Project at Sterkspruit in partnership with Senqu Municipality.

The project involved building sidewalks for pedestrians, installation of traffic lights, and construction of demarcated areas for hawkers.

As part of strengthening our law enforcement authorities, we have employed 10 additional traffic officers from applicants outside the public service. Furthermore, an additional six (6) officers were trained Road Transportation Inspectors.

In order to ensure adherence to road safety regulations, we have seen the upgrading of ten (10) driving license testing centres (DLTCs). These centres are in Mount Ayliff, Burgersdorp, Aliwal North, Butterworth, Alexandria, Engcobo, Bizana, Maclear, Cradock and Port Alfred.

In partnership with the Department of Public Works, we have completed the building of two vehicle testing stations in Mthatha and Engcobo.

Throughout the above achievements, focussing on HIV/AIDS was a key factor by dissemination information and raising awareness.

Madam Speaker, above are some of our successes and strides we have made to bring about a transport system that will benefit all the people of the Eastern Cape.

This year will see the integration of roads forming part of the Department of Safety, Liaison and Transport. This move will ensure improved service delivery, particularly to our rural communities.

The Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP) challenge us for strategic focus areas for intervention.

We as the department of Transport will contribute to the achievement of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan through:

* Building our human resource capabilities
* Infrastructure, including the eradication of backlogs and the development of enabling infrastructure for economic growth and development.

Madam Speaker and Honourable Members, allow me now to outline our programme for the coming financial year. This programme seeks to ensure improve roads and transport network, greater awareness of road safety, thereby providing a better life for all our people.

This year, during Phase 3 of the Kei Rail Project, will see our continuous commitment to the Kei Development Corridor through:

* The refurbishment of the existing railway line and associated facilities
* Fast-tracking the construction of an appropriate telecommunication and train control system
* Designing of siding facilities at Zamukulungisa Industrial Node near Mthatha
* The provision of civil infrastructure services to the alternative housing site at Zimbane Valley Extension 75 for residents who are currently occupying the industrial node
* Conduct surveys relating to travel demand estimation and preference commuters
* Construction of a shorter link road between Ugie and the Langeni Forests near Mthatha to improve accessibility of people and products (such as timber and agricultural products) towards markets, the rail network and the East London harbour
* Completion of the refurbishment of the railway stations in Butterworth, Mthata, Dutywa and Sihota.

As part of supporting and restructuring of the bus industry, the following will be done:

* Creation of a single legal entity of all small bus operators in the former Transkei. This single entity will be contracted to service 166 identified routes in the region. Plans are also being made to identify further routes in the rest of the Province
* Develop an updated bus passenger transport contract for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality area.

With regard to the recapitalisation of the taxi industry, we will:

* Continue with our capacity building programmes for taxi drivers, owners and marshals. It is envisaged that the first New Taxi Vehicle in line with the specifications for the taxi recapitalisation project, will be seen on the Eastern Cape roads.

To strengthen our traffic safety efforts, this year will see:

* Building and upgrading of five vehicle testing stations in Butterworth, Bizana, Mount Frere, Maluti, Mzimkhulu
* Assist local authorities in upgrading Driving Licence Testing Centres, especially in the previously disadvantaged areas
* Facilitate provision of a safe scholar transport system
* Embark on a series of campaigns targeting schools and community members
* Pilot a driver training education for Grade 11 and 12 learners in the Eastern Cape to enhance traffic safety awareness
* Strengthen our campaign on stray animals on our roads through an effective communication strategy
* Strengthen the coordination of various law enforcement agencies to reduce road traffic accidents, specifically targeting identified high-risk areas, routes and offences that result in fatalities and injuries
* Continuously strengthen our relationships with our neighbouring provinces by holding joint roadblocks with Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State
* Develop a strategy that will include innovative means of intensifying traffic law enforcement.

Madam Speaker, in our efforts to improve the usage of the Bhisho and Mthatha airports, we will commission a feasibility study to determine the best option of restructuring. The study, however, will not stop our efforts to improving the link between the Mthatha Airport and Wild Coast Airstrips.

Plans are afoot to look at the possibility of broadening the Mthatha Airport runway and apron to accommodate bigger aircraft in future.

Madam Speaker and Honourable Members, an effective transport system cannot succeed without support of quality roads network. In recognising this, the provincial government has endorsed the integration of the roads division to Transport from the Department of Roads and Public Works.

This new division is tasked to provide and maintain the proclaimed provincial road network.

Of the 43 600km proclaimed roads in the Province, approximately 5 200km are paved (tarred) and 38 400km are unpaved (gravel).

This Madam Speaker reflects the mammoth challenge we have to ensure that we present our people with a road network that is conducive for growth and development.

In improving our roads infrastructure, we have:

1. Made good progress on upgrading the roads from Cala – Lady Frere, Sterkspruit Tele Bridge, N2 Kei Mouth, Dutywa - Engcobo, Dimbaza – Middledrift, Adelaide – Bedford, Mount Fletcher – Matatiele, to a total of R565 million.

This massive construction of roads creates about 600 person days per R1 million, giving about 340 000 person days per year. On completion of this project, a total of 316 kilometres of roads will be tarred, thus contributing to improving our roads network.

This year, we will also see the continuation of maintenance contracts in Mzimkhulu, Ngcobo, Elundini, Mnquma, Makana and Ndlambe.

Seven new maintenance contracts are planned Umzimvubu, Amahlathi, Intsika Yethu, Blue Crane, Mhlontlo, Senqu and Mbizana.

The above efforts reflect our commitment to address the imbalances of the past by providing adequate road system for the communities therein.

The conclusion of listing provincial roads as required by the Eastern Cape Roads Act will be completed pending the finalisation of the classification as laid out in the New National Departmental Policy. This will happen after consultation with district and local municipalities.

An extensive re-sealing project of approximately R56 million will be undertaken to extend the life of the R72 coastal road between East London and Port Elizabeth. This road is also the link between the East London IDZ and Coega. It will be followed by the upgrading of the Fonteinskloof to Nanara road.

The following is the funding allocation per region and is based on road category kilometres in each region.

Region Allocation for 2005/06

* Cacadu R79 million
* Amathole R120 million
* Chris Hani R76 million
* Ukhahlamba R58 million
* OR Tambo R86 million
* Alfred Nzo R47 million

To enhancing the PGDP, identified projects include continuation of Phase 1 and 2 and start of Phase 3 of the Ugie to Langeni road, which is a key link in the Kei Rail Project. This road will provide access for timber and agricultural produce to markets and production facilities.

Apart from benefiting the timber industry and agricultural sectors, the construction of the Ugie-Langeni road will have positive spin-offs to the tourism industry and travel patterns by unlocking the region’s natural resources.

The allocation towards the completion of the above projects is R1.3 billion.

Conclusion

Madam Speaker and Hon. Members, I present our programme of action to contribute to realising the PGDP and further ensuring that by acting together, we do have the capacity to build a South Africa that belongs to all people enjoying equal access to opportunities.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
17 March 2005
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)

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