Keynote address by the Honourable Thobile Mhlahlo, MEC for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport at the launch of the OR Tambo Sakha Isizwe Projects, Port St Johns

Today marks a turning point in the living conditions of the people of Port St Johns and the entire OR Tambo District, as government has delivered according to its promise. It is a widely known fact that Eastern Cape, especially the OR Tambo District, has a challenge in terms of road infrastructure and the Department of Roads and Transport has a responsibility to address this challenge, which we inherited from the previous regime. Our Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP) highlights the importance of transport infrastructure investment in the realisation of our economic growth targets.

The Department of Roads and Transport remains committed to the achievement of the PGDP targets and our role is to ensure that our transport system and infrastructure complement the broader economic growth and development programme of government. The new approach that has been adopted by the provincial government, which involves integration of roads and transport planning, has given impetus to our broad infrastructure development strategy. Through our newly-introduced Sakha Isizwe Community-Based Transportation Programme, we have been able to build and maintain our roads, especially in rural areas, while simultaneously creating work and fighting poverty through labour-intensive methods as we promised through the African National Congress (ANC) Manifesto in 2004.

As we speak, there are Sakha Isizwe Projects, which are being implemented by the Department of Roads and Transport in areas such as Port St Johns, Qaukeni, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Ntabankulu and Nyandeni. Presently, we have 1 995 Household Contractors throughout the province on which R12,9 million had been spent. Of this number, 545 households are from the OR Tambo region in areas such as KSD, Mhlontlo and Ntabankulu. The district office has further added 310 temporary household contractors.

This year, we want to increase this number to 5000 and give each district office R10 million to expand the programme. Through this programme, poor households maintain certain stretches of road and obtain salaries from the department. Their work entails road maintenance, upgrading, construction, focus on roadside animal management, fencing, pedestrian safety, footpaths, non-motorised transport, gabion basket manufacturing, rangers etc. This new programme is expected to create an estimated 30 000 additional work opportunities over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework period, thus 5 000 per district. It would further result in the construction of approximately 300km of new low volume roads and the maintenance of approximately 5 500 km of existing roads, thus significantly improving the quality of the overall provincial road network and transportation system.

The targeted roads will assist in improving accessibility to economic activities, tourism opportunities, schools, clinics and other government services. Some of the targeted roads in this district include, Mqanduli to Hluleka, Port St Johns R61, R61 from Mampube to Town, Port St Johns (DR08191), Mbizana (DR 08112 & DR 08113), Nyandeni (DR 08313), Ngqeleni to Mahatma Mouth, Corhana to Ngqeleni, Ntabankulu (DR 08125 & DR08106) and Lusikisiki to Mbotyi

The department has allocated R17 million for regravelling of roads by our in-house Road Maintenance Unit in Ntabankulu, Qaukeni, Port St Johns, Nyandeni, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Mbizana and Mhlontlo between 2007 and 2008. In an effort to accelerate road maintenance by this unit, today we are officially handing over two graders to the O R Tambo District. These two graders form part of the first 12 graders worth R16,4 million that have been purchased by the department as a start of the substantial recapitalisation of the Yellow Fleet over the next 10 years.

Since last year, we started the tarring of the streets of Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha through our newly-introduced Sakha Isizwe Community-Based Transportation Learnership Programme, which has benefited 120 young people who are expected to work for a period of two and a half years at a cost of R3,8 million. Furthermore, the department has allocated R6 million for the revitalisation of the Mthatha City road infrastructure due to the upcoming developments in the OR Tambo region which would require government to reposition the town and change its outlook. We have further allocated R16 million for the building of a taxi rank in that town and I hope that the taxi industry would appreciate this effort.

The Wild Coast Region and Port St Johns, in particular, remains the flower of this Province when it comes to tourism potential and government has an obligation to enhance that potential. Hence today we are handing over two boats worth R589 000, which would assist the Noqekwana Community and tourists to cross the Umzimvubu River. On that note, I would like to request all of you to rise for one minute for a moment of silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives while attempting to cross this River. In an effort to realise the objectives of creating Integrated Rural Mobility Access (IRMA), we have built a 5km pedestrian and bicycle path worth R4 million which will further improve safety on our roads through promotion of non-motorised transportation.

Today, we are further handing over 950 bicycles for rural learners in this region as part of our Shova Lula Bicycle Project. We have further allocated an additional R3 million for this project and R2 million for animal drawn wagons, which will be distributed to all districts to provide public transport alternative for our rural communities. The design of the second phase of the PGDP Wild Coast Meander has been completed and very soon, the upgrading of the road from Tombo Store on the R61 in Port St Johns to Isilimela hospital will commence.

Over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, the department will design and construct 1 100 km of new surfaced roads. This will be spread amongst the districts with 206 km in the OR Tambo District. We further plan to surface the roads to Madwaleni and Greenville Hospitals in 2009. The identification of specific roads will be guided by the municipalities' Integrated and Development Plan (IDP) formulation process. In order for us to successfully provide safe passage for our people and visitors when using our roads, road signs are very critical and the Department has adopted the road from Port St Johns to Port Edward as a pilot for the promotion of road signs for tourism development.

Two weeks ago, the department advertised a Traffic Safety Management Leanership targeting young matriculants with full exemption, who are aspiring to become Road Safety Officers. This time we are targeting 10 young people from the OR Tambo District, with a particular focus on King Sabata Dalindyebo (2), Nyandeni (1), Qaukeni (2), Mbizana (1), Ntabankulu (2), Mhlontlo (1) and Port St Johns (1). This week, we advertised bursaries for 20 traffic officers, of which three will be from this region, Mbizana (1) and Lusikisiki (2).

The department has allocated R1,5 million for a 12 month internship programme targeting 56 unemployed graduates from all over the province and interns would get a stipend depending on their qualifications. Diplomats will get R2 226 per month, while degree holders will get R3 378 per month. These interns will work in various directorates and districts of the department, including finance, supply chain management, human resource management, human resource development, government motor transport, MEC's office, Head of Department's office, public transport, transport planning, traffic safety and traffic control.

The restructuring of this district's bus services has finally reached a stage of distributing the buses. Local individual small bus operators have established a single legal entity called Africa's Best 350 Ltd (AB350) which is a 100% black owned company in which all the bus operators are shareholders. AB350 is going to purchase 175 brand new buses to service 166 routes in the former Transkei region. On 19 July 2007, we will be launching the first 24 new buses at Mbizana and I would like to extend an invitation to all of you. We want to make that the first 55 buses are distributed in the OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts in this financial year.

For many years, tourism development in the entire Wild Coast was always inhibited by access to the area but I am happy to announce that the Mthatha Airport is now under renovation and air traffic volumes have increased from 23% to 30%. The department has purchased two new fire engines worth R2,5 million, which will assist in increasing the airport's emergency capacity and improve its grades from four to six. Discussions and consultations are taking place with regard to the establishment of a second airline to service the Johannesburg-Mthatha route. We further envisage a link from Mthatha to Durban as soon as the correct type of service is developed. An important goal is the linking of Port Elizabeth to Mthatha via Bhisho with the service geared for faster movement between the three areas which have been identified for the 2010 World Cup.

In conclusion, I would like to call upon all mayors and councillors to participate in transport forums in order to ensure integrated planning.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
31 May 2007