Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport 2011/12 budget vote speech delivered by MEC Ismail Vadi

Madam Speaker
Honourable Premier
Fellow MECs
Honourable Members
Distinguished guests
Members of the Media

Introduction

I have never done this before. This is my first departmental budget and it is indeed an honour to commend to the House Budget Vote 7 - Department of Roads and Transport for the financial year 2011/12. The underlying narrative of every budget vote is the beneficial effect it would have on the lives of citizens; the positive impact it would have on the economy; and the tangible manner in which it would reduce inequality, poverty and deprivation in our society. A budget vote is never about yesterday; it’s really about today and tomorrow. 
  
In the Premier’s State of the Province Address, the Honourable Mokonyane spoke of the Gauteng Vision 2055 and the need for us to create a globally competitive city-region. This vision seeks to create a province that is liveable, equitable, accessible, sustainable and prosperous for all its inhabitants. I believe the Department of Roads and Transport can contribute meaningfully to this vision. It can do so by creating a reliable, affordable, safe and accessible public transport system and a well-developed road and rail network for the efficient, effective and seamless movement of people and goods. Some might add that in this age of advanced information, communications and technology, we must also have the capacity to process large packets of data at high speed and at low cost to be globally competitive.

25 year integrated transport master plan

Ask any dreamer to create a vision, and you will get one. But that vision must be matched against the concrete realities of our time. In this context, the success of any government lies in its ability to prudently use public financial and other resources to transform today’s realities for the better, guided by a coherent vision of the future. This is the essence of politics or the “art of the possible” as the Chief Whip of the African National Congress (ANC), the Honourable Brian Hlongwa, often reminds us.

So, what are some of the realities on our roads and public transport system? Potholes; traffic congestion; lack of safety of taxis and trains; inadequate and unreliable public transport; taxi violence; and shortly, an e-tolling system on some of our freeways that will constitute an additional transportation cost to motorists. It’s no wonder that newspapers have carried daily stories of our people’s experiences on public transport. The only relief has been the hilarious cartoons of last Friday depicting taxi drivers piloting planes and creating havoc in the heavens.

It should be evident to all of us that our public transport system impacts in a very real way on the lives of our citizens; no less than the provision of education or the rendering of health services. It has become an issue of intense public interest and concern. It is precisely for this reason that the Gauteng ANC, at its Provincial General Council held last week, resolved that an affordable, safe and reliable road and public transport network, based on an overall transport master plan, are essential for a vibrant global city-region.

Therefore, I have prioritised the designing of a 25 year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25) for Gauteng. I have established a high-level committee of experts to develop an ITMP25; and its mandate is to provide two plans:

• firstly, a short-term plan indicating more immediate steps to be taken to change the public transport landscape in our province, which should be submitted to my office by January 2012; and
  
• secondly, a long-term, 25 year plan that will knit-in with the Gauteng Vision 2055 strategy, which should be handed to my office by March 2013.

I am hopeful that long after we would have left public office, the Integrated Transport Master Plan will serve as a road map to be followed, rather than merely an archival point of reference.

Budget Allocation

I now wish to discuss the department’s budget for the current financial year. I will speak to the principle issues, rather than provide all the details. My focus will be on the department’s road maintenance and construction programme; its public transport and logistics mandate; g-Fleet; Gautrain; and the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. Provincial Treasury has allocated R 6.2 billion to fund a broad range of programmes relating to roads and transport.

This represents nine percent of the total Gauteng provincial budget. It is a truism and a common lament of all departments that monies allocated is not enough for the challenges facing them; our complaint is no less. But my respected colleague, the MEC for Finance, Mandla Nkomfe, has got a single word in his dictionary page that starts with “A” – austerity; so the department has to cut its cloth according to its length.

Road repairs, Maintenance and Rehabilitation

The department has allocated just over R 1.2 billion for its roads infrastructure and maintenance programme. This represents the most important of our programmes this year. It is commonly known that our roads network has deteriorated over the past few years. This has been confirmed by our Annual Paved Road Network Assessment. The assessment for 2010 shows that out of the total extent of the provincial paved road network of 4248 km, nine percent of our roads is in a very good condition; 27 percent is in good condition; 33 percent is in a fair condition; 20 percent is in poor condition; and 11 percent is in a very poor condition.

These statistics are disturbing as the international benchmark is that a country’s road network should not have more than 10 percent in a poor and very poor condition; provincially we are now at 31 percent! The shocking fact is that only two years ago, this figure stood at 15 percent. The asset value associated with the current condition of the network is approximately R39 billion. If we had maintained our road network at the “very good” condition level, its asset value would have been R51 billion; so we have witnessed a net asset loss of 23.5 percent in less than five years.

At the same time, traffic volumes on our roads are extremely heavy. In total, 66 million vehicle-kilometres - that is the total distance travelled by all vehicles in one day - are travelled by about four million cars every day on the roads in our province. This totals to 24 billion vehicle-kilometres annually. Over half of the provincial roads in Gauteng carry more than 5 000 vehicles per day and 38 percent of the roads carry more than 10 000 cars per day.

These facts say something to all of us. It says that we must act quickly and decisively to preserve our road network. The department, therefore, has taken a strategic decision to focus on repairing, maintaining and rehabilitating our roads, rather than focusing on constructing new roads. This we must do to guarantee safety to our motorists; and to minimise the excessive road reconstruction costs that we will incur over time if we neglect to repair them timeously.

Repairing potholes

In recent times potholes have become a matter of public concern and social and legal activism. A pothole is a daily irritant to motorists. It is ugly; it is an eyesore on our roads landscape. It damages vehicles and it poses a danger both to pedestrians and motorists alike. With my counterparts in the municipalities we have launched an aggressive campaign to repair potholes on both municipal and provincial roads. Our partnership with Lead South Africa’s (SA) Pothole Brigade in Johannesburg has also yielded good results. Together, we have on average repaired 40 000 potholes monthly.

This campaign is having a positive impact. For example, the Technoserve South Africa (TNS) Research Survey conducted in February 2011 for Lead SA showed that 31 percent of people in Gauteng feel that the “pothole problem” is being addressed. On the West Rand, 43 percent feel that the situation is improving; and in Soweto the figure stands at 40 percent. Surprisingly, in Sedibeng it stands at 12 percent; pointing to the fact that much more needs to be done in Emfuleni, Midvaal and Lesedi.

S’hamba Sonke project and job creation

Money spent on the repairs, maintenance and construction of roads have multiplier economic effects. The department aims to create at least five thousand jobs opportunities through its road repair and maintenance programme. In addition, this programme must help to capacitate and empower small, medium and micro enterprises. The entrepreneurial thrust of these programmes would in itself create employment opportunities and contribute to expand the business base in our province. I must emphasise, though, that as much as the department wishes to do business with and to empower credible, small-scale road contractors, it will no longer tolerate shoddy work from any of them.

We, and the public at large, demand fair value for money. It is not acceptable that a pothole repaired today is a pothole again two days later.    
I am pleased to announce that on 7 July 2011, the department will be launching in Duduza (Nigel) the S’hamba Sonke Project. Our campaign is a central component of the plan of Minister Sbu Ndebele to create jobs through road maintenance programmes in both the semi-urban and rural areas. I am optimistic about the capacity of the S’hamba Sonke project to empower young people and women; to develop skills; to enhance dignity and human worth through constructive labour; and to put food on the table of many who are poor and vulnerable.

Improving road infrastructure

As our economy expands, our population grows and our transport demands increase, the department is constantly put under pressure to provide and to upgrade road infrastructure. I am pleased to report that in this year, the department will be completing the construction of the following roads:

• R55 Phases 1 and 2 - this is an alternative road between Sandton and Pretoria via Laudium, which entails the upgrading of the road from a single to a dual carriageway, including the construction of two bridges and culverts.
  
• K29 Phase 3 - Malibongwe Drive that entails the upgrading of the road from a single to a dual carriageway, including the construction of a bridge across the N14 and the associated culverts. This will ease congestion from Lanseria Airport to major highways.
• Cayman Road Phase 2 - in Sedibeng that involves the tarring of Cayman Road as an access road to the “Eye of Africa” Development.

In the current financial year, the department has earmarked the following roads for upgrading:

•  K46 - William Nicol Drive, which entails the upgrading of the road from a single to a dual carriageway. This road is a major linkage between Sandton and Diepsloot.
• K15 - Phases 2 and 3, which involves the upgrading of Adcock Road between Dobsonville and Protea Glen. This road will ease the mobility from Soweto to Krugersdorp.
• P126 – Pinehaven Interchange, which entails the construction of an interchange over the N14, including the construction of 3 km long approaches, culverts and two bridges.

It needs to be noted, however, that the awarding of the tenders for these roads was the subject of the investigation by the Auditor-General of South Africa. The legal advice obtained in respect of the validity or otherwise of the tender awards will determine the speed with which the department can proceed with these projects.

As part of our programme to improve infrastructure in rural areas and to create better access to markets for rural communities, the following will be embarked on: a 4.5 km doubling of old Vereeniging Road (R82) between Eikenhof and Walkerville; and the upgrading of gravel roads into ultra-thin surfaced roads in Nooitgedacht, Rust de Winter, Hammanskraal, Winterveld and Magaliesburg.

In addition, as part of the development of the 20 Prioritised Townships Project, the department will upgrade selected arterial roads in Soshanguve, Kathlehong, KwaThema, Kagiso, Khutsong, Refilwe, Ekangala and Sharpeville. A number of these construction projects will be labour intensive to ensure that there is maximisation of job opportunities in local communities.

Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project

The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) is designed to upgrade approximately 560 km of provincial roads. Phase A1 of the project has upgraded 185 km of the existing road network, largely through bonds issued by the South African National Roads Agency Limited. The department welcomes the release of the “Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project - Steering Committee Report”, which recommends a 20 percent reduction in the proposed e-tag toll tariffs. Undoubtedly, constructive pressure from organisations in civil society and the public hearings contributed to this review of the tariffs. This was an important exercise by a democratic government in listening to the plea of its citizenry. The Minister of Transport must now confer with the Premier of Gauteng and make a determination on the final tariffs.

Two further steps, however, need to be taken. Firstly, a decision must be taken in respect of the remaining phases of the GFIP. Should we proceed with these phases? Secondly, these phases are presumably based on the user-pay principle. If this principle is to be reviewed, the question must be posed: How do we fund the next phases of the GFIP, given the limited fiscal resources at our disposal and the competing demands on the fiscus? 
  
In the light of the public concerns regarding the implementation of Phase A1 of GFIP, the department would initiate a proper, public consultative process in respect of any implementation of the remaining phases of the GFIP. A key area for such consultation is how best to fund such critically needed road infrastructure. In this regard, the department will host a consultative forum within the next three months so as to receive input from the public and interested stakeholders on how best to approach the remaining phases of the GFIP.

Public Transport and Transport Logistics

If roads maintenance and construction is one of the focal points of the department; the other is Public Transport and Transport Logistics. There is an accepted view among transport planners internationally that we cannot build ourselves out of traffic gridlocks on our roads and freeways. Therefore, our built environment must be complemented by effective transport regulation, planning and management.

If we are to realise the Gauteng Vision 2055, we must develop and integrate our public transport system composed of rail, bus, taxis and other non-motorised modes of transport to a point where commuters – both the working and middle classes - would consider public transport, rather than private transport, as a mode of choice.

This is what is meant by a socially-inclusive public transport system. The central questions are: Do we have the vision and plans in place? Have we got the financial and fiscal resources to undertake large-scale transport infrastructure development? Are all the stakeholders ready to buy into the process? And, have we got the political will? These are difficult questions to answer. What is clear, though, is that already important strides have been taken in promoting public transport in Gauteng. Both the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit in Johannesburg and the Gautrain are initiatives that have received international and national acclaim. But much more needs to be done!

From a planning point of view, the 25 Year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25), the Integrated Transport Plans and the speedy finalisation of the Integrated Public Transport Network Designs by municipalities will set the scene for significant public transport initiatives over the next few years. About that, I have no doubt. At the same time, an Integration Committee has been established to investigate the possibilities of electronic fare integration for Gautrain, Metrorail, Rea Vaya, Metrobus and Gautrains busses. This is an endeavour to facilitate integration and ultimately seamless travel between land-based public transport modes that are at the least under government control. The department is currently drafting a provincial framework that will guide interoperability in the public transport system to bring about efficiencies and cost effectiveness.

Establishment of provincial regulatory entity

Later this year, the department will establish the Gauteng Public Transport Regulatory Entity (PRE), as required by the National Land Transport Act. The PRE would replace the Gauteng Operating Licensing Board (GOLB). The formation of PRE will have far reaching implications for public transport regulation and operations. It would be administered primarily by departmental officials and would be better capacitated to deal with the issuing of taxi and bus operating licenses; convert permits to operating licenses; and regulating public transport operators.

Currently, however, the Gauteng Operating Licence Board (GOLB) considers and grants applications for public transport operating licences. To date, it has approved 22 679 out of 42 451 applications for conversion; and rejected 4229 applications. It has also started in earnest the process of recapturing applications that were lost as a result of last year’s crash of the National Land Transport Information System. Importantly, there are 4835 issued operating licenses that are awaiting collection at the GOLB offices; and the department urges the leadership of the minibus taxi industry to ensure that operators collect their operating licenses.

One of the major provisions to emerge from the National Land Transport Act is the requirement that transport subsidies be transformed to subsidise lower income commuters through the inclusion of all modes of public transport, not only busses. The bus subsidy in its present form is still a relic of the apartheid era. The taxi industry has long lamented that it carries more than 50 percent of commuters, without being supported by government. It, therefore, would not be inappropriate for government as a whole to begin the process of engagement with the taxi industry on this question.

I wish to express my gratitude to the provincial leadership of taxi organisations for the cordial manner in which they have engaged with my office on various matters of mutual interest. If this constructive approach and partnership can be strengthened, it will have a lasting and positive impact on public transport in our province.

Public Transport Infrastructure Projects

More practically, the department would be implementing the following projects to promote public transport in the current financial year:

• the construction of two public transport transfer facilities in Zandspruit and Bophelong;
• planning for a further three public transport transfer facilities in Kyalami, Vanderbijlpark and Leratong;
• the construction of 16 km of walkways and bicycle lanes in Metsweding and West Rand municipalities;
• the distribution of 3000 bicycles to promote our Green Campaign and to broaden the use of non-motorised transport among scholars;
• the management and monitoring of 34 bus subsidised contracts and the allocation of bus subsidies to the value of R1.6 billion;
• the establishment of a Driver License Testing Centre at the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown; and
• the establishment of two regional Transport Operating Licensing Administrative Bodies in Tshwane and Johannesburg.

Partnership with South African Post Office

The department is wholly committed to an efficient and convenient way of renewing and paying for motor vehicle licences. It is with this in mind that we have entered into an agency agreement with the South African Post Office to enable motorists to register or renew their vehicle licences at 259 Post Offices throughout Gauteng, thereby reducing congestion at our testing centres. This has proven to be a highly successful partnership and we hope that it will be extended in the next financial year.

This brings me to the effectiveness or otherwise of the Driver License Testing Centres (DLTCs). The department acknowledges that there are several challenges confronting DLTCs. These relate to the Service Level Agreements and their effective implementation by the respective municipalities; the numerous allegations of corruption against various driving schools and selected officials; the backlogs in processing learner and driver licences; the absence of proper internal controls in respect of revenue collection; and the quality of customer services being rendered at the DLTCs. The department, together with the Department of Finance, is currently reviewing the functionality of DLTCs and in due course we will report on the matter to the House. 

Implementing Freight Strategy

Better logistics performance is strongly associated with trade expansion; export diversification; ability to attract foreign direct investments; and economic growth. The 2010 World Bank Logistics Performance Index suggests that low and middle-income economies could boost global trade by 15% by improving logistics performance. By providing infrastructure; facilitating collaboration between government and the private sector; and by means of appropriate regulation of the freight transport industry, the provincial government can play a considerable role in ensuring that Gauteng is an attractive location for establishing and carrying on sustainable business.

The tonnage split of freight between road and rail remains concerning with 89 percent being on road compared to 11 percent on rail. This imbalance in the freight system results in greater congestion on our roads and a very carbon intensive freight system. The provincial government is intent on enabling more efficient and effective trade logistics to ensure that Gauteng remains an economic hub of the country and Southern Africa. A key thrust involves the development of intermodal infrastructure which will see a greater share of long distance traffic on rail.

This, more than anything else, will reduce the cost of logistics for local firms. The department has been actively engaging with the Department of Economic Development, the private sector and Transnet on the design of the provincial freight network and the location of intermodal terminals.

This year some progress has been recorded on our freight programme. The Gauteng Freight Forum has been established, which has facilitated collaboration among stakeholders to improve the movement of freight in the province. In conjunction with Blue IQ, a study has been completed that investigates various potential freight and logistics hubs in Gauteng and a feasibility study on a logistics hub on the West Rand has been concluded.

At the same time, under the auspices of the Department of Economic Development, work on the development of Tambo Springs Inland Port is continuing. Finally, the department is in the process of updating the Gauteng Freight Data Bank.

Promoting the Green Campaign

In line with the global agenda on sustainable development, we are obliged to reduce our carbon footprint. Carbon emissions are a leading contributor to global warming and other associated environmental and health problems. To this end, the department will this year develop a Non-Motorised Transport Policy; a Green Transport Policy; and an Air Quality Management Plan.

These will aim to reduce our carbon footprint. Specifically, the Non-Motorised Transport Policy will aim to integrate non-motorised modes of transport with other modes, so as to make it safe, accessible and popular. On this score our metropolitan municipalities face a big challenge. Cable News Network (CNN) announced recently that Cape Town is one of the fifteen most bike-friendly destinations in the world; less cars and more convenient, eco-friendly access to the city is making it a more liveable city. So, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane – the bicycle race is on!

G-Fleet

G-FleeT is a self funding trading entity within the department. Although the House is not asked to appropriate any money for this entity, it needs to be noted that g-FleeT is a running business worth over R800 million, and has a reporting obligation to the House.

The bulk of its finances go to operations, which includes the maintenance of vehicles; transport support services; and the buying of new vehicles. g-FleeT undertook to review its business model and to strengthen its financial controls after it received an adverse audit opinion on its Financial Statements for 2010/11. It has since then developed a turn-around strategy in order to become an efficient and competitive fleet management company. Essentially, its strategy centres on robust risk management; improved internal controls, systems and processes; better client relationship management; and striving for a clean audit.

Gautrain

This year’s budget has allocated a little under R2.2 billion for Gautrain. Gautrain stands out as a flagship public transport project of the provincial government. It has developed a reputation for offering passengers a safe, convenient and affordable travel experience.  On the airport link passenger support has exceeded expectations with almost 3 million passengers having already used the system. By April 2011, over 110 000 direct, indirect and induced jobs had been created through the Gautrain project.

Gautrain will be running soon between Johannesburg and Tshwane. Preparations are well-advanced for the commencement of these operations. The Bombela Operating Company has been conducting trial running of trains and busses to schedule, as well as testing and re-testing all operating systems. An important component of this testing is the completion of simulated emergency exercises both in Tshwane and in the tunnels beneath Johannesburg.

The Bombela Operating Company has to satisfy the Rail Safety Regulator that rigorous safety testing and trial runs have been successfully completed and that all the required safety measures are in place before a safety permit is granted for the Johannesburg to Tshwane route. The Rail Safety Regulator has indicated its satisfaction with the co-operation that Bombela has afforded it during this phase. I am optimistic that the final operating permit will be issued shortly by the Railway Safety Regulator. 

Recently, there has been some reporting on the issue of Gautrain’s “patronage guarantee”. The guarantee is not to cover a potential shortfall of passengers, but rather a mechanism by which the concessionaire can be assured of covering its minimum operating costs. Gautrain was approved by National Treasury in 2006 as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project. Its final approval included a financial model showing all costs and liabilities for the 19 and a half years of the project.

A “patronage guarantee” formed part of the Project and the accepted financial model and has been public information since the signing of the Concession Agreement in 2006. This is in accordance with international best practice. In fact, in the World Bank’s review of rail projects, entitled World Bank Study: Private Sector Participation Light Rail – Light Metro Transit Initiatives, 2010, which included Gautrain, eight out of 12 rail projects had similar patronage guarantees. The four that did not cater for patronage guarantees, failed or were terminated.

A public survey conducted in February this year shows that people in general are very positive about Gautrain. The opinion survey shows that:

• Gautrain is seen as improving and transforming public transport;
• its leadership is seen as having the ability to compete on an international level;
• 80 percent of respondents indicated that they are likely to use Gautrain; and
• that it has a positive, distinctive and recognisable brand perception.

Talking about the Gautrain brand, I must report to the House that in March this year, the Gautrain spokesperson received the 2010 Media Liaison Officer of the Year Award. This prestigious award given by the National Press Club recognises excellence in liaison with the media. In the same month, Gautrain received “special mention of the Jury for the quality of films presented” at the Paris Festival CinéRail Train & Metro on Film.

The Jury was impressed with the quality of The Story of Gautrain; Phambili Gautrain Phambili and Gautrain - History Audio-Visual which captured the spirit of Africa and its people. I am hopeful that in the course of this month, this positive national and international perception of Gautrain will strengthen further as the train begins running between Johannesburg and Tshwane.

Decade of action for road safety

The United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011 to 2020) was launched worldwide on the 11 May 2011; and the South African campaign was launched by the Minister of Transport in Gauteng in June 2011. The singular purpose of the campaign is to decrease the carnage on our roads. The Decade of Action for Road Safety could not have come at a better time - our country has been besieged with road and rail accidents. This campaign, implemented to its fullest and supported by all of us, must serve as a beacon of hope for road users and to those responsible for road safety management and mobility.

The department is to dedicate this year’s October Transport Month in support of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Our theme is simple and straight forward: “Towards an Integrated, Safe Public Transport System that Reduces Fatalities”. This campaign hopes to promote road safety and thus save lives; to showcase safe, integrated public transport system initiatives; to promote investment in road infrastructure; to promote safe, non-motorised forms of mobility; and to encourage the use of public transport and reduce traffic congestion on roads.

Inter-Governmental and International Relations

I am a firm believer in the principle of co-operative governance. There is no need for competitive behaviour among the various spheres of government; on the contrary, government departments, entities and agencies should co-operate in the broader public interests. In this regard, we have already held a meeting with the newly-elected Members of the Mayoral Committees for Roads and Transport and identified common areas of work such as the ITMP25; road maintenance; the expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit system; and the strengthening of the DLTCs.

Similarly, our relationship with the National Ministry and Department of Transport has been mutually constructive as exemplified by our close co-operation during the review of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project; the launching of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety in Gauteng; and the proposed launch of the S’hamba Sonke Project later this week.

Internationally, the department has renewed its membership with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and its continental arm, the African Association of Public Transport (UATP). The department supports the global campaign aimed at doubling the market share of public transport by 2025.

Next year, the department will play a seminal role in hosting the UATP Conference in South Africa. Shortly, I will give due consideration to the proposal of the Intelligent Transport Society of South Africa that Gauteng becomes the host province for its sixth International i-Transport Conference and Exhibition on Sustainable Mobility to be held in September 2011.

Effective and efficient corporate governance

Effective corporate governance lies at the very epicentre of productive service delivery by the department. Coupled with this is the imperative to ensure that our administrative processes have integrity, transparency and accountability. Therefore, very early in my term of office, I commissioned the Auditor-General of South Africa to conduct an investigation into the supply chain management processes within the department. As I had presented a “Ministerial Statement” to the House on the matter last Friday, I will not dwell on it today.

However, I do wish to report briefly on the progress we have made to re-structure the department. I am pleased to inform the House that after extensive deliberations and consultations with various stakeholders, we have reached a point of near finality. Broadly, the structure has been agreed upon by all the stakeholders. The outcome of this exercise is likely to produce two important results.

Firstly, it will trim down the top-heavy management layer of the department, thereby resulting in cost savings; and secondly, it will create certainty within the wider staff of the department. I am also pleased to report that the entire Senior Management of the department has submitted their Declarations of Interest and these have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for scrutiny.

Conclusion

Earlier this year, when we officially opened the Beyers Naude Drive, I recalled a poem by Robert Frost, entitled “The Road Not Taken”. The last stanza of the poem is instructive for all of us. It reads:  “I shall be telling this with a sigh, Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -, I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference."

I suppose what Frost means is that making choices - choosing between two roads in life - is inevitable, but you never know what your choice will mean until you have lived it. Transforming the Department of Roads and Transport is not an easy road; it is a road less travelled by. But we have to do it. It is our destiny to make the tough decisions; implement them, even in the midst of criticism and challenges. In fact, we would certainly fail if we waver to take the road less travelled by.

For those who have joined me on this road – my office staff; the Senior Management and Staff of the department; and all the various stakeholders in the roads and public transport family, I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation. My appreciation also goes to the Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Roads and Transport and the House for exercising rigorous oversight on the performance of the department. 

I commend Budget Vote 7 – Department of Roads and Transport to the House.