Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government

Title: Mhlahlo: Opening of roads between Cala and Lady Frere

Keynote address by Honourable Thobile Mhlahlo, Eastern Cape MEC for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport at the opening of roads between Cala and Lady Frere Ndwana Village, Sakhisizwe Municipality

It is indeed a great honour for me to get an opportunity to address this historic event, which marks a turning point in the quality of life of our people, who have been marginalised and ravaged by poverty for many decades.

In his State of the Nation Address a month ago, President Thabo Mbeki gave us a task to ensure that we address the problem of poverty that continues to haunt our young democracy.

In addressing poverty eradication, the President drew specific attention to some * clear definition of the poverty matrix
* development of a proper database of households living in poverty
* identification and implementation of specific interventions relevant to these households
* monitoring of progress in these households as they are graduated out of poverty
* addressing all indigence, especially women.

According to the Eastern Cape Macro-Social Analysis, our province has a population of some 6,4 million people and 54% of this figure comprises of women, which also translates into the majority of households being headed by women in the Eastern Cape (51,8%)

The Chris Hani District has an average of 53% of households headed by women, which means that we have a responsibility as government and our social partners to ensure that women are prioritised when it comes to job creation programmes. This analysis further shows that this district has 131 300 households living below the minimum living level.

This clearly shows that the democratic government has a mammoth task of changing the face and outlook of this area. We are aware of the critical challenge that we face as we attempt to continue to redress the imbalances of the past through the implementation of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) objectives with regard to the rehabilitation of our transport infrastructure.

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.

It is a widely known fact that this region 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 apartheid and Bantustan regimes. 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.

Today, we are demonstrating our continuous commitment to the development of this region through provision of transport infrastructure. The Department of Roads and Transport has spent R220 million on this road, which will now open more socio-economic opportunities for local communities. The construction process has already created jobs for 395 local people, of which 202 were men, 82 women, 108 youth and three disabled persons.

This road will assist local communities from 16 villages such as Upper Ndwana, Ndwana, Ngxumza, Askeaton, Seplan, Seplan Mission, Lower Seplan, Bumbana, Ntlalontle, Lamun, Hala no 1, Hala no 2, Greyspan, Upper Ndonga, Stony Croft and Pesi Village, which are all situated within Sakhisizwe and Emalahleni Municipalities.

It has now reduced travel time for motorists travelling between Cala and Lady Frere from 1,5 hours to 30 minutes. More travellers and tourists have been attracted to the area and traffic counts went up from 150 vehicles per day to 400 vehicles per day. There has been a significant improvement in occupancy rate for local Bed and Breakfasts and the use of garages for fuel. Business has improved in the two towns of Cala and Lady Frere and local informal hawkers are tapping into this opportunity.

The department has further installed fence along the road to prevent stray animals from endangering the lives of road users. In an attempt to improve the roads conditions and create jobs in this area in a sustainable manner, we have introduced the Sakha Isizwe Community-Based Transportation Programme, which is a newly-introduced programme by the Department of Roads and Transport in an effort to construct and maintain rural road infrastructure and simultaneously push back the frontiers of poverty.

This is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) project, which has already created 1 796 temporary jobs and 1 995 permanent jobs for poor households throughout the province. An amount of R8 million was specifically allocated to the Chris Hani District for the 2006/07 financial year, specifically to address strategic issues for the benefit of local communities through this programme. This amount will be increased to R10 million in the new financial in order to create work for as many people as possible. Already, there are 275 Sakha Isizwe Household Contractors in this District, who are currently working in three local municipalities such as:

* Sakhisizwe Local Municipality: Cala: 50, Elliot: 33
* Emalahleni Local Municipality: Bolotwa: 105, Lady Frere: 10
* Ngcobo Local Municipality: Ngcobo- :7

Plans are afoot to increase the number once the plant hired to rehabilitate gravel roads has completed its contractual obligations. Currently, the plant is already on site in the following localities:

* Lukhanji Municipality: Whittlesea/Katberg: 25 kilometres
* Lukhanji Municipality: McBride/Tsitsikama: 25 kilometres
* Emalahleni Municipality: Lupapasi: 18 kilometres
* Sakhisizwe Municipality: Mhlwazi/Elliot: 28 kilometres

Plant hire for the following localities still has to go to the department's evaluation and awarding committees:

* Lukhanji Municipality: Tsomo Valley: 25 kilometres
* Emalahleni and Intsika Yethu Municipalities: Lady Frere/ Cofimvaba: 18 kilometres.

This implies that 139 households will benefit from this program in various localities to maintain these roads. Since November 2006, the Department of Roads and Transport has embarked on a special programme of fixing potholes in our road network, including this district.

As we speak, patching and repair of route R397 between Sterkstroom and Molteno is taking place. We will further work on the roads from Queenstown to Whittlesea and Lady Frere. Roads around Dodrecht, Indwe, Elliot and Ugie will be attended to in the new financial year. Provincial roads in Intsika Yethu and Ngcobo municipalities are being maintained by Area Wide Maintenance Contracts at a cost of R35 million for each municipality.

In the new financial year, the department will spend R3 million in re-gravelling 278 kilometres in this district through the Sakha Isizwe Road Maintenance Programme using the "upscaling" approach. Today, we are further demonstrating our commitment towards improving scholar transport in this district through our Shova Lula Bicycle Project in an attempt to create conducive conditions for learners. The department has purchased 375 new bicycles for this district alone, which will benefit 16 schools at Emalahleni, Sakhisizwe and Lukhanji local municipalities as follows:

Municipality: Emalahleni
Name of School: Nzimankulu Secondary School (SSS)
Number of bicycles: 30

Name of School: Phumlani SSS
Number of bicycles: 20

Name of School: Ntsokotha SSS
Number of bicycles: 20

Name of School: Thozamisa SSS
Number of bicycles: 20

Name of School: Thambekile SSS
Number of bicycles: 30

Name of School: Matyhantya Junior Secondary School (JSS)
Number of bicycles: 26

Municipality: Sakhisizwe
Name of School: Ida High School (HS)
Number of bicycles: 16

Name of School: Sifonondile SSS
Number of bicycles: 15

Name of School: DM Skosana HS
Number of bicycles: 20

Name of School: Bathwanda Ndondo SSS
Number of bicycles: 40

Name of School: Ndwana JSS
Number of bicycles: 15

Municipality: Lukhanji
Name of School: Velalanga SSS
Number of bicycles: 30

Name of School: Gwatyu Farm School
Number of bicycles: 30

Name of School: Zweledinga SSS
Number of bicycles: 30

Name of School: Manzenzulu JSS
Number of bicycles: 20
TOTAL: 375

We will distribute 5 000 more bicycles worth R5 million in the new financial year throughout the province, which will be accompanied by six animal drawn wagons worth R2,3 million. As part of transforming bus operations in the region, the department is assisting Africa's Best 350, a single legal entity established by small bus operators from the former Transkei region, in getting new buses that would be safe, reliable and offer affordable public transport service.

The first 55 buses will arrive on Sunday, 1 July 2007 and will be distributed to the Alfred Nzo and O R Tambo districts. In April 2008, 56 buses will be distributed to the Amathole and Chris Hani districts. In an effort to improve access to driving licence testing centres for rural communities, the department has registered a Grade E Drivers License Testing Centre at Intsika Yethu Municipality. This coming year, we will upgrade the Elliot Testing Centre.

We will further start the construction of a weighbridge in the Queenstown vicinity to curb overloading. In conclusion, I would like to recommit the Department of Roads and Transport in changing the lives of the people of this region for the better. The democratic state will not retreat from its obligations of fighting poverty and building a better future for all South Africans.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport Eastern Cape Provincial Government
12 March 2007

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Last Modified: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:20:01 SAST