Address by Minister Marius Llewellyn Fransman, MEC for Transport and Public Works, Western Cape, delivered on the occasion of Budget Vote 10, Budget of the Department of Transport and Public Works

Hear it:
abrupt tear in the afternoon, CNN serving biscuits
in famished living rooms. The bullet was not heard here -
only your undead voice. Rises, catches, bush fire
in the jointed bone-stem, in the cerebellum.

Megaphone hour. He feels the sun its sting
and his arm it needs that motion familiar,
hand holding brick, hand letting go:
this is the tenses chasing each other,
these are the bodies they left behind.

Honourable Speaker,
Premier Rasool,
Cabinet colleagues,
Honourable Members of the Legislature,
Friends and guests,
Comrades,

These words could well have been written of our anguish of Alexandra last week; they could well have been written of the callousness at Cato Manor in KwaZulu-Natal; yes, these words could well have been written of the darkness of Du Noon; they could well have been written of the shame of Sebokeng; but they are in fact from a poem by Vivek Narayan called ‘Notes on Chris Hani's funeral'.

As I reflect on the legacy of Chris Hani, to whom I dedicate my Budget address here today, and as I reflect over the events of the last week or so; I am struck by the parallels in symbolism. Hani's untimely murder came on the eve of the birth of our new democracy. This callous and morose act of cowardice had the potential to derail the peace, freedom and democracy that was waiting to be born.

The shameful and cowardly acts of criminality and xenophobia of the last week or so, comes in the emerging rays of elections in 2009 bringing in a renewed mandate and ANC leadership tasked by Polokwane to deepen social transformation, eradicate poverty and uproot unemployment. These tragic events threatened to wipe out the achievements of nearly a decade and half of toil and struggle. It threatened to do interminable damage to the image of South Africa as a rainbow nation steeped in the spirit of ubuntu in which our humanity, dignity and existence is embedded in the humanity, dignity and existence of others.

Chris Hani's blood seeped deep into the soil of our nation and gave birth to a new South Africa and nurtured a new generation to enjoy democracy, peace and freedom. His memory blossomed on the branches of freedom that sprung up all over our country. Events this past week though, chillingly reminded us of Hani's words when he said. "A new South Africa would be meaningless if the problems of the millions of poor people were not tackled".

In the wake of Hani's murder, it took the collective efforts of the ANC's leadership to calm the waters and call for the nation not to be distracted and derailed. The past few days it has been the collective efforts and resolve of leaders all over our country and the ANC's leadership in particular, to call for calm and decisive action to halt the mayhem. ANC President Jacob Zuma's call last week for our brothers and sisters from other African countries not to flee the country; and for ANC and community structures to take back our communities from criminals and criminal acts and safeguard the innocent lives and possessions sent out a powerful message that our nation will not be held to ransom and that our hard-earned freedom, peace and democracy could not be stolen.

I was heartened when I heard the response and call of the community of Masiphumelele near Fish Hoek to all foreigners to return and assuring them that they, their belongings and businesses will be safe and protected. I am sure that they heard the call made by ANC President Jacob Zuma and have responded.

Allow me though to briefly return to Hani's prophetic statement that "A new South Africa would be meaningless if the problems of the millions of poor people were not tackled". It is against this statement that we measure our progress as a young democracy. It is against this yard-stick that we evaluate or own achievement as a Department over the past four years and leading up to 2009. This Budget Address seeks to clearly reflect on that mandate.

The achievements of the first decade of our democracy have been widely acclaimed by friend and foe alike. This was typically characterised by a smooth political transition, an even smoother change in leadership at the end of the Mandela era, unprecedented economic growth and financial stability, roll-out of housing, sanitation and basic services to millions of South Africans.

This period of relative stability and economic growth has recently been followed by significant challenges in the global economy from which South Africa as an emerging market has not been immune. We have also seen the emergence of an energy crises of mega proportion, continued acceleration of the phenomenon associated with rapid urbanisation such as congestion and environmental degradation. Now we are confronted by manic xenophobia that challenges the very fabric of our being; that threatens to destroy the legacy and achievements of decades of our pan-African struggle.

These challenges call for unity in action. It calls for us to collectively deal with the few who seek to damage and destroy. It calls on us to consolidate the victory and gains of the past 14 years and galvanise ourselves to act decisively in fulfilling our historic task.

As we galvanise the progressive forces in this province to respond to the renewed mandate from the ANC post-Polokwane, we reflect on how we will rise to the challenge of deepening economic and social transformation; we reflect on how we will rise to the challenge of eradicating poverty; we reflect on how we will rise to the challenge of wiping out unemployment.

As we stare these challenges in the face, we realise that unless we act in unity our energies and resources will be dissipated. That is our first imperative for successful delivery. That unless we act in unity, we will continue to be distracted by a few that is only interested in preserving white minority interest and the interest of the privileged few. Unless we act in unity, the social and economic transformation that is required for the majority of our people to become active participants in this country's economy and wealth will remain a pipe dream and source of much frustration, dissatisfaction and dissent. Unless we act in unity, as the ANC, our alliance partners and the broader, we will continue to be confronted by the scourge of poverty, unemployment and lack of skills.

In the process of engaging our mandate, my Department has made every effort to connect with and listen to communities. We have made great efforts to understand their needs and aspirations so that we can respond. We have made every effort to ensure that the highways to development do not pass them by but builds them and creates possibilities for a new future and renewed hope. We have made sure that we talk to communities and take opportunities to them so that the dusty and sandy soil of the Cape Flats can also give birth to a world class built environment and high tech structures. Over the past four years the abiding question that we have asked and delivered on is ‘how is this going to benefit the communities that we serve?' "How will this benefit the residents of Delft, Gugulethu, Atlantis, Philippi, Manenberg, Mbekweni, Lavender Hill, Ebenhaezer, Rietpoort, Bitterfontein, Beaufort West and countless other Western Cape towns and townships?" How is this going to deliver on the mandate that we have been entrusted with.

Legacy of delivery
In addressing this question, we have over the past four years spent more than R7 billion on infrastructure across the length and breadth of our province creating thousands of jobs and translating into many economic opportunities for entrepreneurs from the established and emerging contractors; Undoubtedly this touched the lives and livelihoods of many communities.

We have spent R2.8 billion constructing and maintaining a provincial road network of 34 000 kilometres of road; we engaged a procurement spend of R1.1 billion giving a lifeline to many small, medium and micro-enterprises. We improved the lives of many individuals and communities by creating more than 120 000 job opportunities through our Expanded Public Works Programme extending to 170 000 by 2009, far exceeding our percentage contribution of the national target of creating one million Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) jobs; through our advocacy for gender equity and the increasingly important role that women play in the built environment we have over the past four years granted contracts to the value of R600m.

In addition, we birthed a number of new and groundbreaking initiatives such as the Basil February National Youth Service, Learnership 1000, New Venture Creation (NVC), Masakh'Isizwe Scarce Skills Programme and the Umsebenzi Jobs Portal in the process ‘tackling the problems of millions of poor people' that Chris Hani spoke of.

My Department have also commenced with the planning and designs of upgrading of 4 Dorp Street Facade, which prevent the building from falling and change its appearance as well as creating additional 9 000 square metres office space for 700 people and 80 additional parking bays and will be in construction by January 2009

My Department has also commenced in upgrading and Revitalisation of unutilised and dilapidated provincial government building in Alexander for accommodating the Department of Education Examination Centre and Reprographic Centre, which will be completed in August 2008.

Public Works and strategic infrastructure

One of the most significant achievements of my Department has been the development of the R30 billion Strategic Infrastructure Plan (SIP) in partnership with sister departments. The SIP will guide the roll-out of critical infrastructure across the province.

Speaker, in the time that I have been the MEC of Transport and Public Works, we have built 32 new schools - at a cost of R566.3 million. This will increase to 36 schools by 2009 effectively creating classroom space for 38 400 learners and delivering 10 812 jobs. In addition, the construction of these schools has created the opportunity for the creation of 56 professional learnerships and 60 trade specific learnerships. In the process, we have responded to the poor of Mitchell's Plain, Khayelitsha, Tafelsig, Blue Downs and other areas, creating much needed jobs and economic opportunities.

My Department has also commenced with the planning and designs of 16 new schools that could be accelerated in the delivery and finally completed by 2010 adding a further additional 19 200-classroom space budget permitting and department of education willing.

In addition, to the maintenance and minor construction work that we have done on health care facilities over the past four years, we will be spending R1 billion on the construction of the two district hospitals for Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain, phase one of which is to commence later this year. This will add a total of 600 beds and create 13 600 jobs. In addition, it will create the opportunity for 140 National Youth Service learnerships. This is in addition to the upgrades over the period 2004-2009 of George Regional hospital, Paarl Regional Hospital (to be completed in 2009), Mowbray Maternity (completed in 2006/07) and Vredenburg District Hospital. The 315 bed Worcester Hospital will create opportunities for 104 000 unskilled labourers, 17 000 semi-skilled labourers and 19 000 skilled labourers.

In addition, we are creating world-class public transport infrastructure on the site of the Public Transport Shared Services Centre in Athlone at the value of R120 million. This project is due for completion by April/May 2009 and will create 5000 job opportunities in the surrounding areas of Heideveld, Bonteheuwel, Langa, Athlone (including Kew Town, Bridgetown, Park Town), Gugulethu and Manenberg. This alternative economic development model is being tested and will be rolled-out to all other major infrastructure developments. In this model at least 30% of sub-contracting and materials supply is targeted for black economic empowerment (BEE) enterprises, and at least R35 m project cost for local area beneficiation. This project is driven by the rationale of locating economic opportunities close to where people live and providing access to a one-stop public transport facility. The remainder of the site is also earmarked for the location of future expansion of government departments.

My Department completed the Beaufort West Traffic and Disaster and Emergency Management Centre in a state of the art building that restores the dignity of the surrounding community, the employees and the client served from the facilities.

Thus overall through our works and infrastructure we have had a 75% BBBEE spend to date amounting to R1.191 billion, 39% women empowerment resulting in R624m in contracts to women, creating direct work opportunities of 34 759 and creating 741 learnerships. These initiatives reflect the positive response of my Department in ‘tackling the problems of millions of poor people' that Chris Hani spoke of.

On the night of the 22nd of October 2007, my Department, in partnership with ABSA, hosted the second annual Construction Women of the Year awards. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Ms Sharon Isaacs, Ms Nadia Price and Ms Amelia Kalo, our three winners for 2007.

Road Infrastructure

Through our road infrastructure we will continue the intensification of delivery to our communities and our goals of social and economic transformation. The Koeberg Interchange upgrade will be undertaken to the value of R705 m and be completed by August 2011. Phase one, valued at R600 m, commenced in April 2008 and is being used as a pilot implementation for the Affirmative Procurement Policy that will see targeted local labour, more aggressive procurement of raw materials from suppliers with BEE status 1 to 4, and 50% of all other procurement from targeted enterprises. At least 20% of contract value will be awarded to black subcontractors of which at least 10% will be women owned. This project will also see the ramp linking the N1 to the M5 completed by World Cup 2010.

N2-Somerset West- Sir Lowry's Pass Phase 1 will see the upgrading of the road to a dual carriageway road of a total length of 5.53 kilometres. The estimated cost for the construction of this project is R168m and will be completed in two years with the start dated for construction September 2008 and completion date September 2010. All procurement of raw materials will be from suppliers with a BEE status one to four and 50% of all other procurement will be from targeted enterprises.

The first phase of the upgrade of the Gansbaai - Elim Road has been completed through the upgrading of the existing gravel road between Gansbaai and Bredasdorp The project consisted of the upgrading of the road of a total length of 25.1 km at a total cost of R94,45 m over a period of 24 months.

The second phase of the Gansbaai - Elim project will be done by more labour intensive methods. Phase 2 will be unbundled into six smaller contracts with a total length of 36,5km ranging in value from R10 m to R40 m. Stage 1 of the second phase will be done over 15 months. The construction of the project is estimated to start in November 2008 and the completion date for this project is March 2010.

Projects to the value of R53 m are planned for the 20008/09 financial years in the West Coast Region:

Five (5) projects have been identified in the different community areas of Wupperthal over a period of three (3) years totalling R23,3 m. These projects include the upgrading of access roads in the area. It is estimated that a total of 280 Jobs will be created which totals to 56 000 person days.

The rehabilitation and reseal of the Doornbaai road towards Strandfontein is to be completed over a period of three (3) years. The project consists of the reseal of 16 km at a total cost of R12,7 m. An estimated 150 jobs will be created on this project with a total of 30 000 person days. Fencing of the 16 km road on both sides will amount to R2,0 m with an additional 24 jobs and 4 700 person days being created.

The rehabilitation of 2 km of the Hopefield Road will be done over three (3) years with a total cost of R2,5 m. An estimated 30 jobs and 6 000 person days will be created.

Upgrading of Eendekuil road towards N7 will be completed in the 2008/09 financial years for an estimated cost of R13,0 m. An estimated 150 jobs and 31 000 person days will be created on this project.

I have also sent out a team of my roads people to engage the municipal authorities and communities in the Robertson Winelands area. I am told that they visited the Nqubela area and have identified roads and sidewalk projects to the value of R800 000.

The N2 Resurfacing and Airport Interchange will be completed by August 2009 at a cost of R130 m with provision for the BMT lane. The project will see the rehabilitation of 5.5 km of the N2 including the Airport Interchange between Vanguard Drive and Borchard's Quarry. The project is being delivered by a BEE contractor and is in support of World Cup 2010.

The White Bridge-Knysna reconstruction project is being undertaken between April 2008 and October 2009 at a cost of R120 m. The project will be undertaken as a partly labour intensive construction with a minimum target of 12.5% local labour and at least 25% directed at targeted enterprises. Through this project, we can begin to respond to poor communities in the Southern Cape and their call for job opportunities. The project will link to the future proposed Knysna Bypass and also provides for non-motorised transport.

In addition, the street-lighting on the N1 Koeberg and Stellenberg Interchanges will be undertaken to enhance safety for the 150 000 vehicles passing per day. The project valued at R 70 m will provide links to provision and rollout of intelligent transport systems (variable message signage) and will utilise energy efficient technology. Through these projects my Department address the critical role that roads play in bridging the economic divide between rich and poor by creating access to opportunities and connecting our under-developed rural areas with high growth nodes in urban and peri-urban areas. In the process we create jobs for our people and access to economic opportunities and ‘tackling the problems of millions of poor people' that Chris Hani spoke of.

In August last year, we listened to the community in Lamberts Bay and have responded to their plea. It was the vision of Aunty Bakkie aka Maria Barnabas, the first black mayor of Lamberts Bay, that Main Road 538 be upgraded. Sadly, Aunty Bakkie passed away in January this year. Aunty Bakkie's road of 10.3 km will be upgraded and is estimated to cost R40 million.

My Department continues to advocate the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme and its principles across the Western Cape and its 30 municipalities as a key intervention to address unemployment, poverty alleviation and alternative models of infrastructure delivery.

The provincial EPWP targets were adjusted to increase the delivery of work opportunities across the various sectors, including Infrastructure, Social Environmental and Economic development to 170 000 from 120 000 over the 5 year period from 2004 to 2009 as part of the massification of EPWP.

We have exceeded the annual target of 40 000 opportunities last year, and all indications are that the national audited 2008 annual target of 40 000 will again be exceeded. There is still a need to continue the advocacy of the application of EPWP principles in the implementation of projects amongst municipalities and is being addressed by the use of sectoral forums, as well as the provision of training for municipal officials in labour Intensive construction methods.

A further enhancement to our EPWP programme is the survey of 1 000 EPWP beneficiaries which has been undertaken to determine the impact of their participation in a range of EPWP projects over the past three years. It is intended that the results of the survey be disseminated to all EPWP role-players to enhance the beneficiary exit strategies of the projects.

Skills Development

Learnership 1000: The first phase of the Learnership 1000 programme is near completion, in which 750 unemployed, often destitute, individuals were offered a new lease on their careers, with a Learnership opportunity within a wide spectrum of skills development programmes. The total amount of funds allocated for this programme is R66 million for 1 500 learners. This comprises a R52 million contribution from the National Skills Fund and R14 million form my Department. The average cost per learner is R44 000 and the budget spend for the period 2008/09/10 is R30 million. The focus on trade specific skills, initially, has resulted in our being able to arrange for 85% of the learners to access work placement as part of their skills development and preparation of entry into the economic opportunities in the respective industries, including construction, road maintenance, arts and culture; local government services and transport. This partnership between the Department of Labour's National Skills Fund and us should be nurtured to provide a sustainable programme in which the skills pool of the Western Cape will be continuously supported by our provision and access to training opportunities within our and the private sectors contracts and service provision. I am pleased to inform you that we have some of our Learnership 1000 candidates here today and would like to recognise Bulelwa Ndinisa and Thurston Highburg. These candidates are living proof of how our government is responding to the problems and needs of the poor.

New Venture Creation Programme: A further extension of the Learnership programme is the New Venture Creation (NVC) opportunities that was launched in February 2008 with the first intake of a targeted 200 emerging entrepreneurs, with the aim to develop them into fully fledged entrepreneurs through a process of rigorous assessment of applicants; sector education and training authority (SETA) accredited training; business mentorship as well as linking them with provincial, municipal, private sector service/ contract opportunities. We have heard the call of poor communities for real opportunities. Through the NVC we are providing opportunities between R800 000 and R1.5 million to emerging entrepreneurs.

National Youth Service (Basil February Team): Over and above the Learnership 1000 programme, the call by the President for government to further our absorption of youth into structured skills development opportunities, is being undertaken by a parallel youth skills development programme, National Youth Service (NYS) Basil February Team, in which we have engaged thus far, 490 young persons who are presently undergoing life skills, trade specific skills and eventually work placement to enable them to enhance their opportunities to enter the economic mainstream in the Western Cape. This is being done in collaboration with the Western Cape Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, and has embraced 80 ex-substance abusers and ex-youth offenders.

Solomon Mahlangu Centre: The Solomon Mahlangu Centre planned for incorporation into the De Novo Estate of the province, is set to be launched shortly, with the establishment of an EPWP co-ordinating team and the refurbishment of some of the disused buildings, to provide the facility for the initial skills development and forming the basis for its expansion into the range of development interventions which would enable the Solomon Mahlangu Centre to evolve into a wide spectrum developmental entity, which would replicate the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) which inculcated civic and national pride and community service. This project is also being undertaken in partnership with the Mkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) as part of government's initiative to respond to the Polokwane resolution calling for support to military veterans, many of whom are languishing in abject poverty and hopelessness.

Contractor Development: Beyond the provision of regional contractor training sessions held in each of the districts of the Western Cape a new contractor enhancement intervention has commenced. This Contractor Development programme, Siyanyuka, provides an opportunity for the support of 50 contractors based in the Western Cape to be mentored and supported to enable them to attain higher Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading thereby enabling them to access higher levels of contracts than they would do presently. This is to be achieved by means of rigorous mentorship to enhance the professionalism of the contractors, attainment of sound financial practices, enhancement of their ability to access contractual and service opportunities, empowering them to broaden their network for business, as well as to contribute to their community social development.

Empowerment Impact Assessment: In support of the aforementioned interventions, we continue to interrogate the provision capacity of our conventional projects/contracts to offer the opportunities for local work and business by applying the Empowerment Impact Assessment analysis process, which aims to increase a projects ability to contribute to the developmental goals of our province.

Umsebenzi Job Opportunities Portal: The Umsebenzi Job Opportunities Portal, launched last November in Khayelitsha, is a web-based system designed to assist both the unemployed person, as well as the potential employer to recruit individuals locally, and enhance the networks of linking job-seeker to recruiters. The present registration of unemployed is 20 000 (17 000 captured, 3 000 to be captured) with a target of 200 000 by end of the financial year. The effort will now focus on the utilisation of the portal as the preferred recruitment by employers starting with our own internal operations and marketing its use by our provincial departments, municipalities, state entities as well as the private sector.

In further partnership with MKMVA we are loading their database of 4 000 veterans and their dependents/offspring in the Western Cape in order to access opportunities on our projects across the province.

We have also secured a partnership with the private sector to provide information technology (IT) infrastructure to MKMVA in order for them to access the Umsebenzi Jobs Portal. This partnership will be further rolled out across the 27 Social Transformation Programme areas providing information hubs where the unemployed can access the Umsebenzi Jobs Portal. In addition, my Department is rolling-out projects across all the Service Transformation Plan (STP) areas valued at over R54 m ranging from maintenance and cleaning to sidewalks, vegetation control and minor construction works.

Our Masakh'Isizwe Programme continues to be a star performer and this year snatched the Gold Award at the Impumelelo Gala Awards function. This bursary and support programme is a partnership initiative between my Department, academic institutions and the private sector geared at producing professional graduates in the scarce skills areas of engineering, architecture, quantity surveying and project management.

I am pleased that we have a graduate of this programme in our midst here today. Katlego Mathibede comes from a rural area in the Free State and was a bursary holder last year. He has since graduated with a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town. He is now working in my Department on World Cup 2010 and is pursuing postgraduate studies with the Centre for Transport Studies.

We have allocated 294 bursaries; 144 for degrees, 11 BTech and 133 national diplomas. I'm proud to say that 42% of these are female students - this is a significant proportion given that in the construction industry in the Western Cape less than 5% of the professional engineers and technologists are women.

Sixty-five of the bursars have already graduated and have been absorbed by my department or by corporations who are in a bursary partnership with the department. In August last year we launched this partnership with Metrorail and nine participating companies in the construction industry in the Western Cape. They are Haw & Inglis, Power Group, Asla Construction, NMC, Goba Engineering, Baseline Civils Contractors, Edel Construction, M&D Engineering, Africon and Ninham Shand.

The appallingly low output of learners from high schools who qualify for university entrance in the engineering faculties is well known. This is already one of the critical constraints on the number of bursaries that we can offer to students from schools in the 27 priority areas.

Last year our students got involved in a volunteer pilot project taking maths tutorials in Dinaledi and other schools identified by the Western Cape Department of Education( WCED). The success at schools such as Rocklands in Mitchell's Plain, with these tutorials has resulted that the programme will be rolled out in 15 schools this year focussing on Philippi, Mannenberg, Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha. This is one of the ways in which our students are living out the vision of excellence in service, and are living out the kind of patriotism for which Chris Hani gave his life. This programme gives real meaning to Hani's concern for tackling the problems of the poor as these young people would never have been afforded the opportunity to study further due to financial constraints and lack of support.

Public Transport

Another area that we have begun to make a real difference in the lives of the poor is in public transport. Guided by our vision of the Public Transport Improvement Programme that we launched last year, we have focused our efforts on the following:

A fully integrated public transport system for the Western Cape inclusive of integrated public transport network, involvement of al existing operators and expansion of subsidised services to areas outside of the Cape Town City functional region. The implementation of the integrated system will in the first phase involve rollout of services in the Inner City and Hout Bay, Macassar, George, and the cape Town International Airport shuttle service.

George Mobility Strategy, which involves the implementation of a subsidised, scheduled public transport service for George, with links to neighbouring towns of Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. This project undertaken in partnership with the Eden District and George Municipalities, will require an annual subsidy of around R25 m, and infrastructure upgrades totalling R200 m work on upgrading of Sandkraal road is already underway. The George Municipality is contributing property to the project for the establishment of a depot. Engagements have already commenced with the community and local operators.

Prioritising public transport with special focus on the BMT lane on the N2, which is already fully operational. With more than 12 000 fines having been issued, and public transport vehicles realising a time saving of up to 3 minutes during the peak period. The outbound lane on the N2 is still under construction. We are also giving consideration to declaring a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane for vehicles with 3 or more persons on the N1 during peak period. A call is also being made for stricter enforcement of dedicated bus lanes wherever they currently exist.

Implementation of the Ntsebeza Commission of Enquiry including improved systems and services at Goulburn Centre and the new Athlone Shared Services Centre currently under construction at a cost of R110m to support access to improved services.

Integrated Fare Management and Intelligent Transport System

Roll-out of the taxi recapitalisation program, which is gathering momentum while sill having to overcome logistical challenges including insufficient annual budget for the scrapping allowance as well as inadequate number of vehicles being produced to satisfy national demand.

Public Transport Operating Trading Entity

Public Transport (PT) Driver training 1 000 drivers for PT and World Cup 2010. In addition to the latter, World Cup 2010 infrastructure projects to the value of R1.4 billion are under way. This includes the Koeberg Interchange, Athlone Public Transport Shared Services Centre and the Airport Interchange. The transport operations plan has been completed and is due for inclusion in the country transport operations plan due for submission to FIFA in June.

Honourable Speaker, our vision of an integrated public transport system is based on a multi-modal solution. However, we cannot invest more and more on roads indefinitely. Therefore, rail is positioned as a critical element. We are thus committed to providing an experience of rail that brings back human dignity into public transport.

It is a well known fact that up to two years ago there was no investment in rail. We have the calls of many of our commuters for an improved service and we are responding. We are therefore pleased that over the next three years an investment of R2.8 billion will be made into rail that will have a far reaching effect on how our people experience public transport and rail in particular.

In so far as the improved rail service is concerned, we have already delivered the Khayelitsha Express with resounding success. This has resulted in the reduction of travel time as well as recording an on time performance of 98% which is above the global average of 94%. It has never recorded any cancellation since its inception. The service offers a free park and ride facility with 24 hour security and shelters waiting. The service also has an exclusive ticket buying point. Free tea, coffee and newspapers are provided on board and there are facilities for laptops. The service has recoded no crime incident since its inception in October 2007.

The unprecedented level of success has prompted us to consider the introduction of a Northern Express from Strand, Firgrove, Eersteriver, and Kuilsriver to Cape Town and will begin by August 2008 that will reduce the travel time by 30 minutes. It is also anticipated that this will further relieve congestion on the N2 and contribute positively to the objectives of the BMT lane by reducing private vehicles on the road and facilitating rapid movement.

The Northern Express will be followed by a buffet car from Simonstown to Cape Town directed primarily at attracting the tourist particularly for whale watching during season as well as the business market for lunch and dinner functions.

In addition, we have increased the rail services from Malmesbury to Cape Town to two train services per day. The pilot phase has been successfully completed and a fully-fledged service is in operation. The Worcester to Cape Town service of 2 train services per day runs through different municipalities and serves coloured, African and working class white communities and a pilot will be starting in the next three months.

We have also listened to the community of Gouda and heard about the difficult conditions that they experience; how they have to lift the aged and infirm in order to board the train; how there is no ablution facilities. We have sent out a team and responded. Collin Rens of Gouda is in our midst here today. I am pleased to report that the station site has been cleaned and that we will build the ablution facility this year and undertake the construction of platform facilities at Gouda Station that will be completed in 2008. We have also undertaken the progressive construction at seven other stations where no ablution and platform facilities exist. We will build the ablution facilities this year and early next year build the platforms.

In addition, we will complete the Khayelitsha Rail Extension by September 2008 at the cost of R500 000 000. We are looking at the viability of the opening of the Atlantis line. For the past 30 years, we have heard the cries of the people of Atlantis. We have met with the community structures and heard their need for an integrated and affordable transport solution.

With respect to rolling stock, 181 coaches will be refurbished in 2008/09 and 220 in 2009/10. Furthermore, to enhance safety and security on trains and train stations 540 rail police have been deployed, 900 contract security staff has been appointed and 350 community volunteers have been recruited.

Last but not least, I want to say to the public transport commuters of the Western Cape of whom sixty percent amounting to 666 000 commuters are being moved by rail daily, that it is not only our vision to provide you a safe service. We are actually translating this into reality. We have heard your call for a safer public transport and rail service and are responding. Since 2003 we have introduced private prosecution in accordance with section 12 of the Railway Act and have successfully prosecuted 13 000 cases for offences such as fare evasion, hanging out of doors, vandalism etc. This amounts to a conviction rate of 98%. We have reduced crime on rail by 30% year on year an example matched by few, if any, cities in the world. Last year we opened contact centres on Cape Town and Retreat Stations; last week we opened Bellville and we will be opening a contact centre on Philippi station next year.

Last week Cabinet approved the policy on accessible transport for all. I want to recognise the legislature and the diligence of the Honourable Carlisle as well as Cde Maxwell Moss for holding us accountable on this matter. We promised last year that we would address this problem in Mandalay and Lentegeur by April 2008. I'm pleased to inform you that we did so. We have invested R18 million in providing accessible transport including the installation of lifts, cameras and deployment of personnel.

With respect to prioritising public transport, the BMT in-bound lane on the N2 is fully operational with more than 12 000 fines that have been issued and realising a time saving of 30 minutes for public transport vehicles. The outbound lane on the N2 is still under construction. We are also giving consideration to declare a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on the N1 for vehicles with 3 or more persons during peak periods.

In addition, to the above we have trained 1101 learners within the mini-bus and metered taxi and Bus industries in fields varying from host training, first aid, tour guide, customer care and interpersonal skills. We have also registered a cooperative within the metered taxi industry to that will empower small individual operators to bid for big conventions and hotel groups. This initiative will be strengthened with the help of our sister Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Allow me to briefly address the matter of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT). The Province and City support BRT as an intervention. However, I want to request the City to give BRT priority to areas where the masses of working class people commute and can benefit. I don't believe the focus should be the CBD Airport route as we already have the BMT lane in operation there and have made significant investment in that respect. In addition, The Airport CBD is a commercially viable route that can be operated by a private operator and therefore we do not need to spend taxpayers' money on it.

Our bicycle distribution programme continues to intensify and we have to date provided 1 400 bicycles to learners in mainly rural areas, enhancing mobility and drastically reducing the travelling time. These efforts will be further intensified and extended to creating economic opportunities through the establishment of bicycle and bicycle repair shops in rural areas. I just want to say to the Honourable Carlisle that I will come back to this point before I conclude.

Traffic Management

During the 2007/08 financial year, some 75 124 additional motor vehicles were registered in the province; on 31 March 2008 the total vehicle population for the Western Cape was 1 531 928.

In light of increasing fuel prices citizens in the province will be relieved to hear that licence fees will again not be increased this year.

Income from licence fees remains one of the province's biggest sources of own revenue and largely serves to keep our road network in good condition. R794 m in licence fees was collected in the 2007/08 financial year, approximately R18 m more than the target we set for ourselves.

I am confident that we will meet our revenue target of some R836 m for the current financial year.

Personalised licence numbers continue to be very popular - with close to 7 000 sales recorded during 2007/08, at a total income of some R10,995 m, as opposed to the 6 222 sold in the previous financial year at a total income of some R10,679 m.

The Department, in conjunction with the Provincial Treasury is in the process of developing Service Level Agreements with each Registering Authority to improve service delivery with regard to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles in the Western Cape. I am very concerned that some municipalities disregard our department's call for improvements to the level of service that they offer to the public in as far as transactions around motor vehicle licensing are concerned. One of the basic conditions that we will be setting in our revised Service Level Agreements with municipalities as our agents, will be the minimum hours of operation that should apply at all registering authorities.

We have started a project with the cooperation of the national Department of Transport and municipalities to effect service delivery improvements as a priority.

During the past four years 4% of the Western Cape motor vehicle population was not licensed. This shows an upward trend that I am not happy with. I have given the go ahead to my Department to place an administration mark against the registered owners of vehicles with outstanding licence fees. This will mean that no other transactions - whether relating to vehicle licensing or driving licence renewals - will be allowed on our computerised system until such outstanding licence fees are settled.

Driving licences

Combating fraud and corruption in this sector remains a top priority. In the past year, about 500 learner's and driving licences were cancelled, with a further 40 cases under investigation at present. I also cancelled the registration of three examiners for driving licences and of vehicles for their involvement in corrupt or fraudulent transactions.

I am still very concerned about service standards and the long waiting periods for learners' and driving licence testing. During 2007/08, Four (4) new driving licence testing centres (DLTCs) were opened through partnerships between my department and municipalities. These DLTCs at Philippi, Lingelethu West (Khayelitsha), Ottery and Laingsburg have taken services closer to our people and improved the waiting periods for test appointments. We will continue to strive to further improve on this initiative and a DLTC in Mitchell's Plain is scheduled for opening in June 2008.

As part of our efforts to improve service delivery, the pilot project for the national Best Practice Model (BPM), which is a combined effort between the Presidentially appointed Special Investigating Unit and this Department, commenced at Lingelethu West (Khayelitsha) on 1 December 2007 and at Knysna on 1 April 2008. This project entails the re-engineering of processes and systems at our DLTCs to not only improve efficiencies and turn-around times, but also to combat fraud and corruption at DLTCs.

The BPM is being tested at the two pilot sites and as system and process improvements are realised, it will be rolled out to all DLTCs in the Western Cape.

One of these systems improvements has been the introduction of the Electronic Licence Booking System (ELBS), which is a module of the eNaTIS. This system has taken out the possibility of human error or favouritism in the booking of appointments for learners' and driving licence tests. Through the introduction of the ELBS, we have seen - within the first two months - waiting periods for tests improve substantially. This has been achieved through more effective scheduling of tests and optimal use of examiners for driving licences and facilities at DLTCs.

It is envisaged that the roll out of this successful system to the all DLTCs in the Western Cape will be completed by the end of the second quarter of this financial year.

My Department is working closely with the national Department of Transport to roll out a computerised learner's licence test, which is currently under development as a module of the eNaTIS.

Property Development

In property development we continued to pursue the implementation of our mandate to optimise benefit to the state from its immovable fixed property assets as envisaged by the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA) and the White Paper on the Management of Provincial Properties. We need to further leverage our property portfolio of nearly R50 billion to address issues of spatial integration and urban planning.

We have made no bones about our commitment to fundamentally alter ownership patterns in the Western Cape property sector, starting with the CBD where we have 98% white ownership. We will closely look at how we leverage our lease agreements to address this matter.

We recently awarded a property in Lakeside to a group that comprises of 70% black women. We also recently awarded a six thousand (6 000) square metre site on the foreshore for R105 million.

The newly enacted Government Immovable Asset Management Act seeks to introduce measures to ensure a uniform framework for the management of immovable assets that are held by provincial departments and its alignment with the service delivery objectives of Provincial Government. My department serves on the national steering committee for the implementation of this legislation and interactive engagement with all provincial departments in this regard will commence shortly.

In terms of this legislation, all departments will be required to prepare an annual immovable asset management plan that relates immovable asset requirements to service delivery objectives. Hence in future these plans will be forwarded to the Treasury in the strategic planning process and will inform the budget allocations. The implementation of GIAMA will cultivate resource-based planning that allows for full service costing and consistent maintenance planning by all Accounting Officers.

In order to optimise the management of fixed property assets my Department is required to maintain an updated asset register. The process of updating the Asset Register is on going. However, the implementation of GIAMA has highlighted the need to expedite this process. To assist provinces and to ensure uniformity, the national Department of Public Works has contracted State owned entities to assist us with this process.

With effect from 1 April 2008, the responsibility for the payment of property rates in respect of provincially owned properties, was devolved from the national Department of Public Works to my Department. An initial amount of R147m was allocated in the form of a conditional grant. Preparations for this new responsibility are underway even though no additional resources to enable this process was received

As part of its legacy projects, my Department has also developed a number of property development models which are being piloted on the following sites:

A city development model on the George Government Precinct and the Conradie Hospital Site; on the George Government Precinct we will be utilising four hectares for office space and three hectares for housing. This will provide the option alternative accommodation for officials from Thembalethu and Mossel Bay to take up residence in George. The housing component will be undertaken in partnership with the Department of Local Government and Housing.

A World Cup 2010 and Transport Nodal Development model on the Phillipi Precinct

An Inner City development model on the Somerset Hospital Precinct. This eight hectare site will provide for a hospital upgrade, hotel, at least 200 housing units for black professionals in the central business district (CBD). Our consistent challenge on Somerset is to optimise ownership for black people and take forward Cabinet's agenda of at least 33% black ownership.

A sustainable development model and an eco village model on the 18 hectare Oude Molen site. This will comprise commercial, cultural and heritage projects and is ready for implementation.

A sustainable development model with focus on housing, agriculture and heritage on the 180 hectare De Novo site.

A land restitution model on a portion of the Porter Estate in Tokai combined with alternative usage including housing, tourism and small scale agriculture for emerging farmers on the remainder of the Estate.

A rural development model for emerging farmers, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, on the Paarl Nursery, Stanford and Atlantis farms.

Furthermore, in partnership with the department of Local Government and Housing, a number of properties have been identified for disposal and will be used in that process to create a number of sustainable human settlements in different areas in the province.

In the context of the public plea by the national Minister of Housing, my department, as custodian of the provincial property portfolio has also been approached to assist with the acquisition of property for housing delivery.

Another critically important relationship that we are developing is with Intersite. The R100 million Cape Town Station upgrade demonstrates the critical inter-linkage between property and public transport. The reconfiguration of Cape Town Station will open up space creating immense possibilities for public transport and other developments. Together with Intersite we will be looking at Phillipi Station and seeing how through more effective spatial integration we can unlock Transport and Property development opportunities. I want to say a special word thanks to Nyami Mandindi for her leadership and inspiring role in this respect.

My property development branch will also undertake the following projects:

Procure a new facility to house the Western Cape Medical Depot.

With respect to the new Office Precinct in George, my Department has commenced with the planning process the first draft of a Site Development Framework will be available soon. In addition to the office complex, a housing development for middle income earners will also form part of this project. It is envisaged that this development will benefit particularly public servants and black professionals and is intended to bring people closer to work places.

The Phillipi Precinct Development project includes:
* the formalisation of the use of a portion of the site by the South African Police Service as a training venue for new recruits;
* the upgrading of the stadium which will be a training venue for the World Cup 2010;
* community sports facilities;
* the provision of a primary and secondary school;
* freeing up some space for housing;
* the upgrade of existing station area in order to facilitate better access and to provide informal business opportunities
* the development of a village to initially house the drivers for the World Cup 2010. These houses will subsequently be allocated to the people of Philippi.

My Department has, in the spirit of the Property Charter, put out on tender a number of properties aimed at the promotion and empowerment of historically disadvanted persons. We want to say to disadvantaged communities in areas such as Hartenbos, near Mossel Bay. This ANC Government is committed to delivering integrated housing solutions, especially in former white areas or areas where historically disadvantaged people were removed or kept out. I listened to complaints of communities of how they were systematically barred from access to the beachfront such as Dias Strand because of largely white-owned gated developments. We have therefore decided to develop five hectares of affordable housing units in Hartenbos, in partnership with national government and the Department of Local Government and Housing. Along with my colleague the Honourable Minister Dyanti, we will ensure that we leverage state-owned land identified for housing to redress skewed ownership patterns of the past.

Earlier this year we went to listen to the community of Ravensmead at an Imbizo. We heard their plight and the pressures experienced with respect to land availability and inadequate housing stock. We heard that for the past 30 years no new housing stock has been made available in the area. We have identified an area of just over eight hectares of public land that will contribute to addressing this need.

We have over the past year also heard the growing plight of many of our struggle veterans in MKMVA and other structures and formations who are battling for survival. Some of them may already have died a death of anonymity. We have committed to establishing a retirement village and a heroes' acre on the De Novo Site.

Over the past few months, inter-governmental relations with the City of Cape Town remained strained primarily as a result of the politicisation of public transport. We realise that this is a critical area of service delivery that requires a joint effort and co-operation of all spheres of government. We want to make a renewed effort at the normalisation of this relationship as it is critical for the implementation of Public Transport Improvement initiatives. We call for calm heads and the collective wisdom that is required to take forward preparations for successfully hosting the World Cup in 2010 and its contingent legacy of an efficient, effective, safe, reliable and affordable public transport system.

Last but not least, we have committed ourselves to the transformation of public sector institutions as envisaged in the Polokwane Resolutions. We will continue to take forward this initiative in our attempts to ensure that the Department of Transport and Public Works is not only demographically representative but that it has the requisite capacity to deliver on the aspirations and service delivery needs of all our people.

Since 2004 the human resource compliment within the Department has seen an increase from 1 371 employees to 1 664 employees to date. This is despite the challenges we face in relation to skills retention and recruitment. In fact our increase in staff numbers confirms that my Department is making an impact and defining itself as the employer of choice.

I am also pleased to record that my Department has undergone a critical self-evaluation, and reflected on its weaknesses in the areas of Strategy analysis and development, as well as client services. Accordingly, the Minister for Public Service and Administration recently endorsed the macro organisational restructuring which will see a radical improvement in these areas, and ensure that our capacity to deliver is intensified even further.

In terms of employment equity (EE), my Department lead the development of an employment equity management tool that has been adopted in the Provincial Government at a launch on Monday 26 May 2008. This initiative has assisted in shaping my Department in terms of its EE profile, to the point that we have made significant progress in this regard. We currently have advertised a number of senior management posts in my department.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding role that the Cuban professionals in my Department are playing. At a time when the skills of experienced engineers and other built environment professionals are scarce, you have stepped into the breach and filled a huge gap. You continue the proud legacy of a small but indomitable and brave nation that has stood by us and our brothers and sisters in Africa and the developing world, even at times, like Chris Hani, paying with your blood. Now as we continue the struggle to address the problem of poverty and under-development, you remain loyal allies and comrades. Some of you will be returning home after three years of dedicated service. On behalf on my Department and the people of the Western Cape I wish to say to all of you muchos gracias, Hasta La Victorie Siempre!

As promised earlier I want to acknowledge the consistent written requests that I receive from a number of people and constituencies. I want to invite Honourable Members Carlisle, Penduka, Ventura, Paulse and Morkel to submit a distribution plan for 50 bicycles to be delivered in mid-June and perhaps this can form part of your 16 June youth day celebrations.

Honourable Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all in my Department for their unrelenting efforts to ensure that we remain true and responsive to Chris Hani's call to tackle the problems of the poor people of South Africa. To all who continue to strive for the vision that South Africa belongs to all who live in it-black and white, I want to acknowledge as true patriots. I am indeed proud of you and the Western Cape is richer because of you.
On that note, I would like to thank my Head of Department Thami Manyathi for his loyalty and determination and all the senior managers, middle managers, junior managers and all workers of the Department of Transport and Public Works, especially those who do toil hard doing everyday tasks behind the scenes, be that sweeping the corridors or mixing concrete on our sites. You all continue to serve with distinction and diligence. On your shoulders rests the hopes of the women, men and children in the remotest corners of our province.

I would like to acknowledge the Western Cape Metered Taxi Association, the Western Cape Provincial Taxi Council, the Provincial Operating Licensing Board and the Property Committee.

My thanks also go to the Masakh'Isizwe Board, run so expertly by Dr Ramphele Mamphela.

Finally, I would like to thank all staff at the Department of Transport and Public Works, especially my staff in the Ministry. Without your tireless support over the past seven years, I would not have been able to accomplish all that I have. I want to make special mention of Eric, Zenobia and Aunty Sarah who are long-serving members of my staff. Finally, I also want to say a special word of thanks to my family for your unwavering support and encouragement through sometimes-difficult times.

Conclusion

Chris Hani defined for us in life and in death the strength that comes from courage of convictions and the unflinching determination to serve the poor masses of South Africa and the world for our struggle was never confined to geographic borders. Perhaps in this dark hour of shame his light can shine once again to remind us of the common destiny and plight of the working class all over the world.

Perhaps his example can remind us again of the ordinary women and men of Africa who carried us on their shoulders towards the dawn of our own liberation. Then perhaps, we can have renewed appreciation for the plight of the displaced and destitute of our continent.

Perhaps his words can remind us that our task of national reconciliation and building a new South Africa ring hollow unless we tackle the problems of the poor people of our country. Blade Nzimande and Jeremy Cronin in their tribute to Chris Hani on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death reminded us that "of all his qualities, perhaps the one that is most remembered was his empathy. Cde Chris was gifted with a very natural, a completely genuine passion for understanding and identifying with other people. He listened with a compelling eagerness to other people's concerns and aspirations."

Cde Chris also had another enduring passion, his love of literature and reciting endless passages from Shakespeare. Perhaps it is fitting then to conclude in remembering the legacy of Chris Hani in these troubled times with words he would choose to comfort, empathise and indeed inspire to greater levels of service, dedication and care:
Tell them, that, to ease them of their grief,
Their fear of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain
In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them.

Another great revolutionary Ché Guevara once said that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love". Comrade Chris was not only guided by a feeling of love, he was loved by millions of South Africans to whom he dedicated his life and for whom he tirelessly struggled until the end. That is the legacy that we aspire to, that is the spirit to which I urge all of us to rise.

I thank you.

Issued by: Transport and Public Works, Western Cape Provincial Government
28 May 2008