Thank you Program Director
Executive Mayor of Polokwane, Cllr Freddy Greaver
Speaker of Polokwane Municipality
Chief Whip of Polokwane Municipality
Councillors present here
Officials from the municipality
Officials from Tshwane Municipality
Officials from Joburg Municipality
Officials from Rustenburg Municipality
Officials from the provincial government
Representatives from different transport entities
Invited guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
It is my great pleasure to stand before you on behalf of Premier Chupu Mathabatha, to celebrate with you as we unveil yet another magnificent project by the Polokwane Municipality.
We are launching this program at the right time given that the country’s recently unveiled vision 2030, commonly known as the National Development Plan puts improving transport infrastructure at the top of its agenda of creating jobs and thus dealing with the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Our presence here today is a stamp of authority that indeed we are a government at work for the better life for all our people.
Polokwane Municipality is one of the 13 cities in the country identified through the Public Transport Strategy of 2007 to implement the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN). Johannesburg’s Bus Rapid Transit (Rea Vaya) and Cape Town’s My Citi Bus are operational while Tshwane is busy with the construction phase of A Re Yeng.
We are here today to declare to the people of Limpopo and Polokwane in particular that we are following suit. The municipality is implementing this project in order to contribute to the transformation of the public transport services in South Africa.
Program Director
In responding to the objectives of the National Land Transport Act of 2009 (NLTA 2009) the White Paper on National Transport Policy (1996) and the Public Transport Strategy (2007), Polokwane Municipality developed a Municipal Public Transport Plan termed Vision 2030 Smart Transport Vision which entrenches principles specified in transport legislation and aim to provide an efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network to the community of Polokwane.
This vision is also designed to increase connectivity of an improved, subsidized public transport network by introducing direct economic benefits into the economy, by not only saving passengers’ time and money, but also by making it easier for them to reach economic centres to find employment, access to social amenities, educational and medical services.
Program Director
In its drive to create a seamless flow of traffic in the province, the provincial government has rehabilitated roads and constructed new roads and bridges that connect communities with economic centers in the province. We believe that roads are not only about the seamless movement of vehicles, but also about the convenience of our people reaching their destinations on time.
For us, transport is about seamless movement of goods and people. It is about infrastructure that makes any modern-day economy function, as it links and inter-links our people with markets and thus creating opportunities. As we embark on our work of improving the quality of life of our people, we have realized that Infrastructure backlogs are a hurdle to forging sustainable development in the Province.
We are therefore rehabilitating the R33 road network. When complete, the R33 (N11, Modimolle and Mabatlane) will facilitate the economic spinoffs not only for Lephalale and the province but the country at large. The future and economic development of Lephalale and the province is to some extent dependent on this road.
Program Director
In his 2012 State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma, highlighted plans to develop and integrate rail, road and water infrastructure, centred around the Waterberg district and the Steelpoort region. Together, we will unlock the mineral belt in these areas through the construction of a road and rail network that will connect the areas with the ports and economic hubs of our country.
Our task now is to roll up our sleeves and direct all our energies and material resources to the task at hand so as to totally unlock the economic output of our province. We remain steadfast in our goal to create a better life for all. Even our detractors will admit that we have made a difference. We will continue to do so even in the face of challenges.
The current economic climate dictates that it will take approximately 72 years to upgrade all gravel roads in the province to tar. Even if we are not around to witness this achievement, we will ensure that we do witness the progress towards it.
Program Director
Without blowing our own trumpet, the progress has not gone unnoticed. In October last year, the Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport was declared the most productive department in the country by Productivity SA at the National Productivity Awards.
We have continued with our award-winning streak into this year, where we reaped the following awards at the 2012 Premier’s Service Excellence Awards:
- Gold in the field of Expanded Public Works Programme;
- Gold in the field of Provincial Law Enforcement.
The Province currently has about 22 298 kilometres of roads out of which about 7145 km is tarred. Almost 68% of the total province road network is untarred. This clearly shows that the majority of the citizens of Limpopo currently rely on gravel roads to access health facilities, schools and other public amenities as well as centers of economic activities within the province.
Gravel roads tend to create a limitation to developments within communities, increase travelling times as well as vehicle operational and maintenance costs. It is for these reasons that gravel roads that cannot currently be tarred, given the limited resources are improved through re-gravelling and constant blading in order to ease the movement of our people.
Programme Director
The National Department of Transport initiated the S`Hamba Sonke Programme (moving together) which intends to bring about a turnaround strategy for Provinces to achieve a more cost-efficient and cost-effective management of South Africa`s road network. It is through this strategy that Limpopo will be able to obtain value for money in road construction and maintenance budgets, as well as ensuring best practice methodologies that create new jobs where people live.
This strategy further seeks to develop and maintain provincial roads (secondary) network as well as improve access to social amenities and at the same time, to place the rural economy on a labour absorptive path.
Program Director
We welcome the support and work done by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) in our province. The R81 (Munnik to Giyani) and R71 (Polokwane to Tzaneen) were completed at a total combined cost of R614 million. We thank our motorists for being patient with the delays at ‘stop and go’ points during the rehabilitation process. It was indeed for the good of the province.
In conclusion, we take this opportunity to wish the Polokwane Municipality and the Executive Mayor, Cllr Freddy Greaver everything of the best as they embark on this journey to Polokwane 2030 Smart Transport Vision. The success of this project will indeed put us as a province in par with the world class cities that our country has to offer. This project holds the key for the potential of the economic hub of the province to be unleashed. Let us all roll our sleeves and get down to work.
Thank you.
