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The Department of Transport is currently hosting a two-day (26 and 27 January) Strategic Planning Session in Pretoria, attended by the Minister, Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin, Director-General George Mahlalela as well as 106 senior managers comprising of Deputy Directors-General, Chief Directors and Directors.

Delivering the opening address, Minister Ndebele said: “2012 is the year when things happen, and it is all of us here who must make it happen. 2012 is, indeed, a crucial year. This is our first engagement for this year as the Department of Transport family. We must appreciate the fact that we are all here to present a Roadmap for the Department of Transport so that we can all address some of the key transport challenges, in order to ensure a better life for all our people. But most importantly, we need to critically look at those areas where we did not perform well since 2009, and find the best solutions going forward.

“Last Friday (20 January), Cabinet concluded a successful, four-day, extended Cabinet Lekgotla in which we conducted a mid-term review and charted the way forward in pursuit of the goal of building a more prosperous, united and equal South Africa.

“Gathered here are those from the Department of Transport Family who make critical decisions, which have an impact on our peoples’ lives. I have no doubt that this composition of senior managers possess the capabilities to deliver our mandate in the transport sector.

“We cannot run away from the fact that the basic needs of our people are transport, water and energy. Our people do not have much time to listen to what our policies and strategies say about these important elements of their lives. They just want delivery. They blame us when road crashes claim more lives, when there are long queues at Driver Licensing and Vehicle Testing Centres, when potholes dominate our roads and when e-tolling is implemented. How do we address these challenges as a transport family?

“As we progress into 2012, our key focus areas include Rail Transportation, Road Transportation, Public Transportation, Road Safety and Rural Development. We must bear in mind that our failure to deliver on these key strategic areas is the failure of our term in office, and a failure on the part of the Department of Transport. It is then our duty to fulfill our mandate in ensuring the provision of safe, affordable and reliable transport.

“As we deliberate on our way forward during these two days, it is critical that we take this engagement and our positions as senior managers of the Department of Transport very seriously. If the Department is going to improve on its way of doing things, it is only through the dynamic leadership of our senior managers. It is very important that we work together as a team and yield sound and objective results that do not only glorify our image as the Department of Transport – but have a meaningful impact on the lives of our citizens, particularly in deep rural areas.

“I am confident that this team is well equipped and talented to drive the kind of public servant that is needed to take the transport challenges to a higher level of decision-making, which is solution orientated. We have a very long way to go in addressing rural development, unemployment, access to public transport, road safety and it is us here who must come up with brilliant strategies and implement them. I wish you all the best in implementing our 2012 transport plans. WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN DO MORE!” the Minister said.