PRETORIA, 17 JULY 2000
LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING THE ORGANISERS FOR INVITING ME TO ADDRESS THE SOUTH AFRICAN TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2000. MY TALK THIS MORNING IS ABOUT ACTIONS IN TRANSPORT FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM. LET ME QUALIFY THAT.
I AM IN NO POSITION TO INDICATE WHAT THE DEPTH OF THIS MILLENNIUM HOLDS, AS WE ARE IN ITS INFANCY, AND ACCORDING TO SOME ASTRO-MATHEMATICAL TYPES, IT HAS NOT EVEN STARTED. HOWEVER, IT DOES SEEM TO ME THAT A VERY SIGNIFICANT PARADIGM SHIFT WILL NEED TO BE DEALT WITH. THIS NEW MILLENNIUM BRINGS TO MIND PARTICLE STATE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT. BASICALLY, PARTICLE TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN MADE A POSSIBLE REALITY BY THE WORDS "BEAM ME UP SCOTTY" FROM THE STAR TREK TV SERIES. YOU TRECKIES IN THE AUDIENCE WILL KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
THE CURRENT STATE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS ONLY MANAGED TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFER AND CREATE PARTICLE IMAGES OF A PHYSICAL FORM. MANY OTHER TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES WILL ALSO MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT DURING THIS MILLENNIUM, WHEREBY NATIONAL BOUNDARIES AS WE KNOW THEM TODAY WILL BECOME NECESSARY MINOR INCONVENIENCES OR NON-EXISTENT VESTIGES OF THE HISTORY OF THE MILLENNIUM. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT SPACE TRAVEL WILL BE COMMON PLACE, AND NOT A MAJOR EVENT.
I WILL THEREFORE COMMIT MY DISCUSSION TO THE VERY EARLY PART OF THIS MILLENNIUM, LIMITING MYSELF TO THE VERY FIRST DECADE OF THE SAID PERIOD.
TO THIS END THEREFORE, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU HOW GOVERNMENT PLANS TO IMPLEMENT ITS POLICIES IN THE SHORT-TO-MEDIUM TERM FOR THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF THIS COUNTRY AND GIVE ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE AND CHALLENGES FACING US IN THIS AFRICAN CENTURY.
TRANSPORT IS A KEY PART OF ANY SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE. BECAUSE WITHOUT AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE TRANSPORT SYSTEM THERE CAN ONLY BE MARGINAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. FOR A TRANSPORT SYSTEM THAT IS GEARED FOR GROWTH, WE NEED A VISION AND A PLAN. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THIS IN OUR WHITE PAPER ON NATIONAL TRANSPORT POLICY AND OUR MOVING SOUTH AFRICA ACTION AGENDA DOCUMENT WHICH WAS PUBLISHED LAST YEAR.
ITS STATED VISION IS TO :"PROVIDE SAFE, RELIABLE, EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND FULLY INTEGRATED TRANSPORT OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH WILL BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF FREIGHT AND PASSENGER CUSTOMERS AT IMPROVING LEVELS OF SERVICE AND COST IN A FASHION WHICH SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WHILST BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE."
GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE VITAL ROLE TRANSPORT PLAYS IN OUR LIVES AND HAS EMBARKED UPON MAJOR PROGRAMMES TO RESTRUCTURE THE INDUSTRY AND CHANGE THE WAY IT IS MANAGED. OUR EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE INDUSTRY AND ENHANCING OUR COMPETITIVENESS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY THEREBY BUILDING A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL.
LET ME MAKE THREE BRIEF BUT IMPORTANT POINTS. HIV/AIDS, UNLESS EFFECTIVELY CHECKED, CAN AND WILL MAKE ALL OUR EFFORTS, SINGULARLY AND JOINTLY MEANINGLESS, AND WE AS AN INDUSTRY HAVE A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS ENDEAVOR. SAFETY IN GENERAL, IS ALWAYS A CRUCIAL ASPECT IN ALL TRANSPORT UNDERTAKINGS. WE NEED TO DETERMINE THE ECONOMIC COST OF SAFETY AND ENSURE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY USED LOWERS OPERATIONAL COSTS WHILE IMPROVING SAFETY LEVELS.
SECONDLY, WE MUST STRIVE TO CREATE A COMPETITIVE AND MARKET BASED TRANSPORT ENVIRONMENT. THIS WILL FACILITATE AND PROMOTE GREATER PARTICIPATION BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE DELIVERY OF TRANSPORT SERVICES, AND GENERATE THE APPROPRIATE MARKET FORCES TO REGULATE SUPPLY AND DEMAND PRESSURES. THIS WILL AFFECT MODAL CHOICES AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRULY MARKET-DRIVEN INTER-MODAL TRANSPORT MARKET.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ACHIEVING A HOLISTIC LOGISTICS ORIENTATION FOCUS IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA IS IMPORTANT IF WE ARE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT ACTIVITIES.
I THINK THAT IN TRANSPORT WE HAVE STARTED TO PUT IN PLACE THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS, A COMPETITIVE COST-DRIVEN INDUSTRY AND A LOGISTICS ORIENTATION. THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING OUR STRATEGIES WILL PROVIDE THE CEMENT, IN THE PROCESS WE ARE POSITIONING THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE US IN THIS THE AFRICAN CENTURY. IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THIS CONFERENCE WILL ENGAGE AND INFORM OUR ACTION IN TRANSPORT FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM.
SEVERAL INITIATIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED. ALLOW ME CHAIRPERSON TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES WITH THE CONFERENCE. THESE INCLUDE:
THE RESTRUCTURING OF STATE ASSETS. YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS LAST WEEK THAT I VISITED ITALY TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN RELATIONS WITH AEROPORTI DI ROMA (ADR), THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGIC PARTNER AND A SHAREHOLDER OF AIRPORTS COMPANY SOUTH AFRICA (ACSA).
GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED ITS DESIRE TO SEE AN ACCELERATION IN THE PACE OF IMPLEMENTING THE SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES OFFERED TO PASSENGERS AND AIRLINES AT SOUTH AFRICA'S PRINCIPAL DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS. THIS PROCESS WILL ALSO SEE THE IMPROVEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERTISE OF LOCAL PERSONNEL THROUGH TRAINING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TAKEN BY ADR. THIS WILL BE IN LINE WITH THE AIM OF THE NATIONAL BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM.
WITH THE RECENT ENACTMENT OF THE NATIONAL LAND TRANSPORT TRANSITION BILL (NLTTB) BY PARLIAMENT, THE LEGAL PLATFORM FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES HAS NOW BEEN SET. A GENERAL PRINCIPLE IN TERMS OF THE ACT IS THAT LAND TRANSPORT PLANNING - WHICH WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES - MUST BE INTEGRATED WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. FROM NOW ON, TRANSPORT PLANS WILL FORM AN ESSENTIAL PART OF INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
THE NLTT ACT HAS FURTHER REQUIREMENTS WITH REGARD TO PREPARATION OF A NATIONAL LAND TRANSPORT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, PROVINCIAL LAND TRANSPORT FRAMEWORKS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT RECORDS, PERMISSION STRATEGIES, RATIONALISATION PLANS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLANS AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORT PLANS.
IN TERMS OF PLANNING AND POLICY SUPPORT IN METROPOLITAN AREAS THE EMPHASIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON AN INTEGRATED APPROACH WHICH STRESSES ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE POOR. THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES AS REQUIRED BY THE NLTT ACT, THE LINK BETWEEN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT PLANNING AND INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ESTABLISHED. PILOT PROJECTS IN PRIORITY AREAS AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER SPHERES OF GOVERNMENT WILL BE CONTINUED IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEVERAL NEW INITIATIVES.
WITH REGARD TO THE FUNDING OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, THE INTRODUCTION OF ALTERNATIVE FUNDING MECHANISMS SUCH AS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BECOME CRITICAL FOR LONG- TERM SUSTAINABILITY. THE UPGRADING AND BUILDING OF A NUMBER OF WORLD CLASS NATIONAL ROADS WHICH INCLUDE THE MAPUTO DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR, THE PLATINUM CORRIDOR AND N3, HAVE ALREADY BEEN INITIATED THROUGH PPP'S.
IT IS AN UNDISPUTED FACT THAT ROADS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO APPLY MEASURES THAT WILL LEAD TO THE OPTIMAL UTILISATION AND PRESERVATION OF THESE ASSETS. I INTEND THEREFORE TO PUBLISH A NATIONAL LAND TRANSPORT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK WHICH WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO AN ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN THAT WILL INCLUDE THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK AND RELATED STRATEGIES. WE HAVE TO PAY GREATER ATTENTION TO THE MIX OF TRAFFIC ON OUR ROADS. IN THIS RESPECT WE ARE CRITICALLY EXAMINING THE ROLE OF ROAD AND RAIL TRANSPORT IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF NON-PERISHABLE AND HAZARDOUS GOODS.
THE RECENT SPILLING OF TOXIC MATERIAL NEAR THE PETROPORT NORTH OF PRETORIA ON THE N1 ONCE AGAIN EMPHASISES THE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, AS SUCH EVENTS NOT ONLY LEAD TO THE CLOSURE OF THE ROAD BUT ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PUT THE HEALTH OF MANY PEOPLE AT RISK.
I REMIND YOU THAT THE NATIONAL LAND TRANSPORT ACT REQUIRES PROVINCIAL LAND TRANSPORT FRAMEWORKS TO SET OUT A GENERAL STRATEGY AND A PLAN FOR THE MOVEMENT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES.
CHAIRPERSON, MY PROVINCIAL COLLEAGUES AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF OVERLOADING ON OUR ROAD NETWORK. TOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT MEASURES TO COMPEL COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW ARE CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED. I REMIND ROAD USERS THAT IN FUTURE HEAVY PENALTIES WILL BE METED OUT FOR OVERLOADING OFFENCES.
I NOW TURN MY ATTENTION TO PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT POLICY WITH SPECIFIC EMPHASIS TO RAIL RESTRUCTURING. GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO MAKING RAIL A MORE ATTRACTIVE AND WIDELY AVAILABLE MODE OF PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT.
AS A FIRST STEP IN THIS DIRECTION, THE CURRENT INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS GOVERNING THE MANAGEMENT OF COMMUTER RAIL ARE BEING OVERHAULED WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVING GREATER EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH THE DEVOLUTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RAIL COMMUTER CORPORATION (SARCC) CONTRACTING FUNCTIONS TO THE PROVINCES AND TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES ESTABLISHED IN TERMS OF THE NLTT ACT.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES UNDER WAY ARE THE FOLLOWING:
WHEN IT COMES TO BUS RESTRUCTURING, THE REPLACEMENT OF LIFELONG BUS OPERATOR PERMITS THROUGH A PROCESS OF CONVERSION FROM INTERIM TO TENDERED CONTRACTS HAS ALMOST BEEN COMPLETED. THE LEGAL STRANGLEHOLD THAT EXISTING BIG OPERATORS HAD ON THE MARKET IS ON THE WAY OUT THEREBY OPENING UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR OTHER ROAD BASED PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS TO WIN CONTRACTS.
CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE FOR EMERGING OPERATORS AND JOINT VENTURE GROUPS AS A MEANS OF EMPOWERING SMALL CONTRACTORS AND DEVELOPING SMMES.
CURRENTLY, THE MAIN EMPHASIS REGARDING SUBSIDISED BUS COMMUTER TRANSPORT IS ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROCESS OF CONVERTING FROM INTERIM CONTRACTS TO NETT CONTRACTS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF COMPETITIVE TENDERING.
THE RESTRUCTURING OF PARASTATALS AND MUNICIPAL BUS OPERATORS WILL FORM A MAJOR PART OF THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, CLOSE ATTENTION IS BEING GIVEN TO BUILDING SUFFICIENT CAPACITY IN THE PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORT TO MANAGE THIS FUNCTION IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER , WHILE MEETING THE NEEDS OF CUSTOMERS IN A MANNER APPROPRIATE TO MARKET CONDITIONS. THIS WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT PROVINCES WILL HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY TO DEVELOP PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE AND WILL COMPLEMENT THE MOVING SOUTH AFRICA STRATEGY - OUR BLUEPRINT FOR TRANSFORMATION OF TRANSPORT.
SPECIAL NEEDS AND YOUTH TRANSPORT SUPPORT IS ANOTHER AREA OF OUR WORK. IN OUR TRANSPORT SECTOR THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS CUSTOMERS ARE ALSO BEING ADDRESSED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRANSPORT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IS ALSO IN PROGRESS.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE OUR PEOPLE - ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG - BECOME MUCH MORE SELF-RELIANT THROUGH THE USE OF BICYCLES IN SPECIAL PROJECTS AND PROMOTIONS. INITIAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING WORK HAS BEGUN, WITH INPUT FROM INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, NGOS AND CYCLE PRESSURE GROUPS.
GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED A RURAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY PROJECT IN 1999/2000. OUR RURAL TRANSPORT PROJECT TEAM IS CONSIDERING ALL ASPECTS OF RURAL TRANSPORT INCLUDING BOTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS. IT FOCUSES ON BOTH FREIGHT AND PASSENGER TRANSPORT. THE VISION OF THE PROJECT IS TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE BASIC MEANS OF ACCESS AND MOBILITY TO OUR RURAL PEOPLE, WHILE SUPPORTING THE INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES INTO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF SOUTH AFRICA.
TRANSPORT SHOULD ENABLE ACCESS TO MARKETS, EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, HEALTH CARE, WELFARE SERVICES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, RETAIL SERVICES AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY. THE PROJECT TEAM HAS SET UP A CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT STAKEHOLDER INPUTS AND THE INPUTS OF OTHER SECTORS (INCLUDING RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE CSIR) ARE CONSIDERED.
THE PROJECT HAS FIVE PHASES AND WILL CULMINATE IN A NATIONAL RURAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY. THE INTENTION IS THEN FOR PROVINCES TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN SITUATION SPECIFIC RURAL TRANSPORT STRATEGIES.
FREIGHT TRANSPORT POLICY HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF FIRMLY AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S BUSINESS AND THERE IS A STRONG COMMITTMENT TO ENGAGING WITH BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT SYSTEM WILL BE ABLE TO DELIVER OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS SO THAT THE SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY AND OUR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS CAN BE GREATLY ENHANCED.
GOVERNMENT'S ACTIVITIES WITH REGARD TO FREIGHT TRANSPORT ARE AIMED AT DEVELOPING FRAMEWORKS FOR PORTS AND RAIL WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT FREIGHT TRANSPORT BECOMES SUSTAINABLE, EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE. THE KEY PROJECTS INCLUDE THE FINALISATION OF A PORTS POLICY AND AN INTERIM PORTS BILL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ROAD REGULATORY AND FUNDING PROJECT.
THE RESTRUCTURING AND REGULATION OF THE TAXI INDUSTRY WITH THE REGISTRATION OF ALL TAXI OPERATORS AND ASSOCIATIONS AND THE DEMOCRATISATION PROCESS OF THE TAXI INDUSTRY IS UNFOLDING IN ALL PROVINCES ALBEIT UNEVENLY. FORMAL MEASURES TO FURTHER ASSIST THE INDUSTRY THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CO-OPERATIVES WAS AGREED TO SOMETIME AGO AND THE IMPLEMENTATION WHICH IS ONGOING, IS BEING CRITICALLY EVALUATED.
THE MINIBUS TAXI RECAPITALISATION PROGRAMME IS ALSO ON COURSE AND WE HAVE ENTERED THE FINAL STAGES OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE DELIVERY OF THIS AMBITIOUS PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT AIMS, OVER A 5-YEAR PERIOD, TO REPLACE THE CURRENT UNDER-CAPITALISED, AGEING AND INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS FLEET OF APPROXIMATELY 126 000 MINI BUS TAXIS WITH 18 AND 35 SEATER VEHICLES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HIGH QUALITY SAFETY STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT.
THIS INNOVATIVE SCHEME, DEVELOPED BY A TASK TEAM REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY, FINANCE AND MINERALS AND ENERGY AFFAIRS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TAXI INDUSTRY REPRESENTED BY SATACO, WILL BE FACILITATED VIA A PERMIT SWAP SYSTEM (OLD FOR NEW) AND A SCRAPPING ALLOWANCE WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO LEGAL OWNERS OF EXISTING VEHICLES TO OFFSET THE PRICE OF THE NEW VEHICLES.
THE SCHEME AS CURRENTLY ENVISAGED HAS BUILT-IN REGULATORY LEVERS IN THE FORM OF COMPULSORY REGISTRATION OF NEW VEHICLES ONTO A NATIONAL PERMITS REGISTER AND COMPULSORY MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS LINKED TO THE RESIDUAL (SCRAPPING) VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF ITS EFFECTIVE LIFE.
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, ATTENTION IS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO MEETING THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OF TAXI OPERATORS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE REMOVAL OF THE REMAINING ANOMALIES IN THE LEGALISATION PROCESS AND TO THE DEEPENING OF THE INDUSTRY'S REPRESENTATIVE BASE BY PUTTING IN PLACE THE STRUCTURES AND PROCEDURES THAT WILL GUARANTEE FULLY DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS FOR A NEW SATACO EXECUTIVE. SATACO IS TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF GOVERNMENT AND IS DESIGNED TO BE THE PARLIAMENT OF THE TAXI INDUSTRY.
VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION AND DISRUPTIVE ACTIONS WITHIN THE PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT SECTOR MUST BECOME A THING OF THE PAST. TOUGH ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE WHO OPERATE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW AND WHO VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.
IN THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD OF TRANSITION STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE POLITICAL ISSUES UNDERLYING OUTBURSTS OF ANARCHIC CONFRONTATION IN THE INDUSTRY ARE FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND ADDRESSED, AND THAT EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS ARE CREATED TO ENSURE THAT DECISIVE, FULLY COORDINATED ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY, INTELLIGENCE AND DEFENCE FORCE INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT WHENEVER THE NEED ARISES.
OUR TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CURRENT YEAR RELATES TO SAFETY - SAFETY ON THE ROAD, ON RAIL, IN THE AIR AND AT SEA.
I WILL BEGIN WITH ROAD SAFETY. WE HAVE REVITALISED THE ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD (RTSB) AND LAUNCHED THE DRAFT ROAD SAFETY DOCUMENT STRATEGY 2000 -2004. THIS IS A SHORT-TERM CONSULTATIVE PAPER WHICH HAS BEEN MADE WIDELY AVAILABLE TO STAKEHOLDERS AND ROLE-PLAYERS IN THE LAND TRANSPORT SECTOR.
AS YOU MAY ALL BE AWARE, FEEDBACK HAS NOW BEEN RECEIVED AND IS BEING INTENSIVELY PROCESSED BY THE CROSS-SECTORAL IMPLEMENTATION WORKING GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN TASKED TO REPORT BACK TO THE MINISTER'S COMMITTEE (MINCOM) AND THE RTSB WITH A CAREFULLY PRIORITISED TWO-STAGE ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS BOTH THE SHORT-TERM AND THE MEDIUM- TO LONG-TERM CHALLENGES WE FACE IN THE ARENA OF ROAD SAFETY. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE REVISED STRATEGY 2000-2004 REPORT WILL BE PUBLICLY LAUNCHED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND THAT THE FIRST ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT-TERM ACTION PLAN WILL ALSO BEGIN TO KICK IN BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THESE ACTIONS WILL BE FURTHER REINFORCED, FIRSTLY, ON THE ADJUDICATION SIDE, WHEN WE SET UP THE ROAD TRAFFIC INFRINGEMENT AGENCY; AND SECONDLY - ON THE RESOURCE- COORDINATION AND SERVICE-PROFESSIONALISATION SIDE - WHEN WE MOVE ON TO ESTABLISH THE ROAD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CORPORATION.
BUT THE PRIORITY ACTIONS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED ARE EXPRESSLY DESIGNED TO START MAKING AN IMMEDIATE, MEASURABLE IMPACT ON ROAD SAFETY AND ROAD-USER BEHAVIOUR EVEN BEFORE THE TWO NEW STATUTORY INSTITUTIONS COME INTO FORCE.
WE ALSO HOPE TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITH THE SYSTEMATIC MOBILISATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR RESOURCES THAT WILL ENABLE US TO ROLL OUT THE PHASED, MUTUALLY REINFORCING PROJECTS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY FORM THE BACKBONE OF A COMPREHENSIVE ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY.
IN TERMS OF RAIL SAFETY SPECIFICALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT IS IN THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING, DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT RAIL SAFETY REGULATOR (RSR) FOR SOUTH AFRICA. THIS WE ARE DOING IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES.
THE CURRENT RESTRUCTURING PROCESSES OF THE TRANSNET ENTITIES AND COMMUTER RAIL REQUIRE THAT AN INDEPENDENT RAIL SAFETY AUTHORITY BE IN PLACE BEFORE ANY RESTRUCTURING TAKES EFFECT. THIS WILL PUT AN END TO THE SITUATION OF RAIL OPERATORS ACTING AS BOTH PLAYER AND REFEREE WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY ON THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE RAIL SAFETY REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE MAXIMUM RAIL SAFETY AT ALL TIMES. A NUMBER OF OPTIONS EXIST WITH RESPECT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY TO EFFECT THE SAID FRAMEWORK. INITIAL RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT A MODEL WHICH IS FOCUSSED LESS ON DETAILED OPERATIONAL REGULATION BUT PLACES GREATER EMPHASIS ON A MANAGED SAFETY APPROACH WOULD BE PREFERABLE.
IN RESPECT OF THE AVIATION SECTOR, AIR SAFETY REGULATION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY. ICAO CONDUCTED AN AUDIT OF OUR C.A.A. LAST YEAR AND HAS GENERALLY FOUND OUR SYSTEM TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. AIR SAFETY MUST AND, CAN NEVER BE COMPROMISED, AND AS GOVERNMENT WE HAVE ASKED ICAO TO ONCE AGAIN CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE CAA'S SYSTEMS, WORK AND CAPACITY
A NUMBER OF AREAS REQUIRE RE-EVALUATION, INCLUDING THE IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION, LIBERALIZATION, MARKET ACCESS, THE EFFECTIVE REGULATION OF MONOPOLIES, THE MANAGEMENT OF ANTI- COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR, INVESTMENT IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY, THE CONTINUED SUSTAINABILITY OF SOUTH AFRICAN REGISTERED OPERATORS AND GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN THE SECTOR.
A BUSINESS PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW IN THE AVIATION SECTOR. IT PROPOSES A FIVE PHASE PROCESS INCLUDING A REVIEW OF CURRENT AVIATION POLICY AND PRACTICE, AN ANALYSIS OF COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA AND INTERNATIONALLY, AN EVALUATION OF THE AVIATION SECTOR AND THE BENCH MARKING OF SOUTH AFRICAN OPERATORS AND ASSET OWNERS WITH THOSE OVERSEAS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY, MADE A VERY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE THEME OF INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION DAY - "FLYING SAFELY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY - BY HOSTING THE 9TH ICAO REGIONAL SAFETY OVERSIGHT SEMINAR/WORKSHOP IN PRETORIA LAST YEAR.
THE SAFETY OVERSIGHT WORKSHOP/SEMINAR FORMED PART OF THE UNIVERSAL SAFETY OVERSIGHT AUDIT PROGRAMME OF ICAO. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SEMINAR/WORKSHOP WAS TO ASSIST STATES TO IMPLEMENT ICAO STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES (SARP'S) AND ASSOCIATED PROCEDURES AS WELL AS TO RECTIFY DEFICIENCIES. IT WAS PRIMARILY AIMED AT THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION.
LET ME TURN TO THE ISSUE OF TRANSPORT IN THE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION. SOUTH AFRICA PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICA TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION COMMISSION (SATCC).
WE ACCEDED TO THE SADC PROTOCOL ON TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATIONS AND METEOROLOGY, WHICH AIMS TO INTEGRATE THE REGION'S TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS AND SAFETY REGIMES AND TO ADVANCE THE COMMON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROSPERITY OF THE REGION.
TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE PROTOCOL, A NUMBER OF IMPRESSIVE REGIONAL INITIATIVES WERE LAUNCHED. SOUTH AFRICA PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE REPLACEMENT OF GROUND-BASED, AERONAUTICAL FIXED-BASED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (ATFN) WITH SATELLITE-BASED VERY SMALL APERTURE TERMINALS (VSAT).
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR PROCESS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION DURING WHICH FOUR NEW AGENCIES WERE ESTABLISHED. THE SEARCH AND RESCUE OVERSIGHT FUNCTION REMAINED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, WHILE MARITIME AND AERONAUTICAL SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS WERE MOVED OUT OF HOUSE AND PLACED UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MARITIME SAFETY AGENCY(SAMSA) AND THE AIR TRAFFIC AND NAVIGATION SERVICES COMPANY (ATNS) RESPECTIVELY.
AN INTENSIVE PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN ON SEARCH AND RESCUE HAS BEEN LAUNCHED, AND THE NDOT HAS MADE PRESENTATIONS ON ITS SCOPE AND ACTIVITIES AT DISASTER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE, THE NORTHERN PROVINCE AND KWAZULU-NATAL AS WELL AS AT THE UMBRELLA BODY FOR ALL NINE PROVINCES, KNOWN AS THE PROVINCIAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
CHAIRPERSON ALLOW ME NOW TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING US AT PRESENT. I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL APPEAL ON THE ISSUE OF HIV/AIDS. I THINK PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI MADE THE POINT VERY CLEAR AT THE 13TH INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE IN DURBAN LAST WEEK, THAT TACKLING THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN AFRICA REQUIRES AN APPROACH WHICH IS RELEVANT TO THE CONDITIONS PREVALENT ON OUR CONTINENT.
MY VIEW IS THAT THE PRESIDENT CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE FACED WITH A BIGGER AND MORE COMPLEX PROBLEM IN AFRICA, IN OUR REGION AND INDEED IN SOUTH AFRICA. THIS THEN WOULD REQUIRE A MORE INTEGRATED APPROACH WHICH FOCUSSES ON SOCIAL FACTORS IN ADDITION TO PROGRAMMES AROUND HIV/AIDS.
IN THE AREA OF TRANSPORT, TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS WE NOT ONLY NEED A GOOD AND EFFICIENT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT MUST PROVIDE FOR CONDITIONS IN WHICH DRIVERS OPERATE. WE NEED TO HAVE GOOD AND EFFICIENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES FOR EVERYONE AND PROGRAMMES TO TREAT NOT ONLY THOSE SUFFERING FROM HIV/AIDS BUT ALSO OTHER CURABLE DISEASES SUCH AS TB. WE NEED A HEALTH POLICY THAT WILL LOOK AFTER NEEDS OF ALL AND WHICH ALSO DEALS URGENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY HIV/AIDS ISSUES.
WE NEED WELL COORDINATED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES TO HAVE A HEALTHIER AND WELL DEVELOPED REGION. WE ALL KNOW WHAT DISRUPTIONS IN THE REGION WOULD DO TO OUR COUNTRY'S ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT.
CLEARLY, WE NEED GOOD HOUSING POLICIES SO THAT WE DO AWAY WITH SINGLE SEX HOSTELS KNOWN TO BE SOME OF THE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR MANY SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES. WE NEED OUR WELFARE PROGRAMMES TO FOCUS ON CARING FOR THE POOR AND THE MOST VULNERABLE, CHILDREN AND WOMEN, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE CARE-GIVERS OF THE TERMINALLY ILL. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BUILDING A GROWING ECONOMY AND ON CREATING MORE JOBS TO INCREASE THE INCOME LEVELS AND REDUCE POVERTY.
WE NEED TO HAVE BETTER JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE VERY HIGH NUMBER OF AWAITING PRISONERS IN CROWDED JAILS AND BETTER MANAGED JAILS TO REDUCE THE RISK AND THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSMISSION OF HIV AND OTHER RELATED INFECTIONS IN JAILS. WE NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN INVOLVED WITH SPORTS TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM MANY HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES AND TO DEVELOP HEALTHY BODIES AND MINDS.
WE NEED TO INCULCATE RESPECT AND KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND COMMUNITY LIFE, TO ASSIST IN DEALING WITH PREJUDICES AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING WITH AIDS. THE LIST OF THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TACKLING HIV/AIDS IS NOT EXHAUSTED HERE BUT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WHICH WE MUST NOT UNDERESTIMATE. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PRESIDENCY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, GOVERNMENT IS DEVELOPING A WELL COORDINATED AND INFORMED PROGRAMME IN WHICH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL FOCUS ON ISSUES RELEVANT TO THEIR MISSIONS.
THIS CONFERENCE ALSO NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS MATTER VERY CLOSELY AND SEE HOW BEST WE IN TRANSPORT CAN CONTRIBUTE IN BUILDING A NATION CAPABLE OF OVERCOMING THIS KILLER DISEASE. OUR EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ASPECTS MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY SPEECH NAMELY SAFETY, MARKET AND HOLISTIC LOGISTICS ORIENTATION SHALL BE FOR NAUGHT IF WE DON'T COLLECTIVELY AND SERIOUSLY ATTEND TO THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU.