Programme Director
Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape Province, Ms Noxolo Keviet
Her Worship the Mayor
Members of the Portfolio Committee on Transport
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Nkosi Mandla Mandela
The Regional Leadership of the ANC
Chief Executive Officers of State Owned Companies and agencies
Officials from the three spheres of government
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
In May 2013, we delivered the Budget Vote of the Department of Transport in which we emphasised the need to strengthen collaboration within government, and between government and society as a whole. The success of our transformative effort will depend on the role played by all stakeholders.
This engagement therefore brings together the three spheres of government, National Parliament and the Provincial Legislature, State Owned Companies and agencies to share ideas assess our failure and successes on our shared task to provide universal access to a quality, safe, reliable and affordable integrated transport system.
Transport is an enabler for social and economic growth and development, as it also drives development in other sectors of the economy. The approach of the Department of Transport as set out in the budget vote focuses on integrating the different modes of transport, while at the same time, ensuring that the rollout of transport infrastructure is linked to other socio-economic development initiatives such as health, education, crime prevention, water and energy. Transport enables communities to access these services.
There are various projects being implemented to position transport as the catalyst of the economy and social activity in the Eastern Cape and other provinces. Different spheres of government are responsible different projects. What matters is that all initiatives of government are aimed at creating a National Democratic Society, characterised by equal access to socio-economic infrastructure and services.
Today, we are meeting here to assess progress on the refurbishment of the Mthatha Airport, which is planned and expected to play a more significant role as a hub of economic activity in this province.
In 2009, his Excellency President Jacob Zuma declared Mthatha a Presidential Priority programme. The refurbished airport will, therefore, serve as an anchor of the Presidential initiative to rehabilitate Mthatha, a hub of commercial activities in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo Municipality, and the entire OR Tambo District Municipality.
Having completed the new runway, we need to ensure that outstanding issues such as the terminal building and security features are completed. Once completed, the Airport should meet all requirements of a modern, safe and secure airport in terms of national laws and in accordance with international regulations.
The three spheres of government, state owned companies and agencies, have to work together to ensure that the outstanding issues are attended to within a reasonable period of time. The National Department Transport is committed and ready to work with the province, the local and district municipalities to ensure that meet our mandate.
I thank you.
