Date: 11/02/2006
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: Radebe: Launch of Integrated Rural Mobility and Access project


Keynote address by the Minister of Transport Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, at the official launch of the Integrated Rural Mobility and Access (IRMA) project, Greater Tubatse Local Municipality

This event today is a clear indication that our government continues to be inspired by the level of hope being demonstrated by our people in the Greater Tubatse.

Our people continue to be confronted by the challenges of access to transport and to economic opportunities. The National Household Travel Survey of 2003, demonstrates that more than 60% of rural households in South Africa have access problems regarding public transport. The survey also highlighted the challenges of scholar transport and noticed that out of 16 million learners, about eight million of them walk to school everyday.

These challenges have inspired the Department of Transport to develop a rural transport development programme and the IRMA project. These projects are aimed at improving the use of non-motorised transportation systems and infrastructure through the promotion of the use of animal drawn carts, bicycles etc, in the Greater Tubatse and other areas similar to it.

My Department will implement a number of interventions amounting to R30 million over a period of three years in your area, let alone other parts of our country. Our event today is indeed a great start. I am delighted to announce that we are handing over 400 bicycles to needy learners in the Greater Tubatse area. The Department of Education has also agreed to assist us with the monitoring of these bicycles and their maintenance.

I'm also glad to announce that the good news will continue in Tubatse with the implementation of a number of other government initiatives. We will soon:
* Upgrade the 1,5km feeder road between the R36 and this Multi-Purpose Community Centre (MPCC);
* Upgrade the 6km access road between Makopung, Banareng and the river crossing;
* Upgrade the 2,5km of the access road between Makgwareng to Banareng, including river crossing and
* The construction of cycling and pedestrian paths along the road between Lekgwareng and Dinkwanyane High School will soon take place.

Labour intensive methods will be introduced for the implementation of infrastructure projects thereby creating employment for the people of Greater Tubatse. We believe that these projects will not only reduce the unemployment levels in your area but will also facilitate your access to mainstream economic opportunities in other parts of our country.

In the near future, I will return to the Greater Tubatse to monitor whether these projects are indeed changing the lives of our people. We would also therefore like to appeal to the municipalities to integrate these projects into their Integrated Development Planning and budget processes. They should take the example from the Limpopo Province which has already incorporated rural accessibility into their 5-year delivery plan. These collaborations will in no doubt improve the export route for Limpopo-based products. In a month's time all South Africans will have an opportunity to once again elect their own local government, we must all go out in numbers to ensure that we elect a local government that is ready to serve us.

Viva Learners Viva
Viva Greater Tubatse Viva
Viva Limpopo Province Viva
Re a leboga!

Issued by: Ministry of Transport
11 February 2006