Safety and Liaison Mr BH Cele during the official opening of Nxamalala Road at
Msinga
18 October 2007
All protocol observed
Our government regards the provision of access as a fundamental component of
economic reconstruction and development and there is no doubt that the
Umzinyathi District stands to benefit in this regard. Millions of rands are
being spent in this district through investment on infrastructure that unlocks
local economic development, links communities with social and economic
services, and ensures that the quality of life for rural communities is
improved.
We have injected cash in the road maintenance, the construction of new
infrastructure, special projects and poverty alleviation and empowerment.
Our special projects include the construction of Dicky Bridge, Sphongweni
Road, Nxamalala Road, Nyonini Road, Ezingulubeni Road, Mbalane Bridge, P549 and
the Nhlesi Road stone pitching.
I am indeed delighted that today, a milestone is recorded in the lives of
people of Umsinga, as we officially open the Nxamalala Express to allow easy
access by communities to various facilities in the area, including schools,
clinics etc. This eight kilometres long road has been constructed at the tune
of R4,2 million to link Nkobongweni road and D1267 to the Nxamalala area. It
also serves as a link to Fabeni community in Nxamalala.
Umsinga is one of the areas in the province that have been declared as
priority areas for service delivery due to the high rate of poverty and
unemployment. It is for this reason that an integrated approach amongst various
departments is crucial in fast tracking service delivery in the area. Very few,
if any, governments in history have been able to tackle manifold challenges
such as we do in South Africa. The combined oppression of colonialism and
apartheid left our communities on the verge of disintegration, stagnation and
doom.
Our rural communities, in particular, were facing a social and economic
crisis in spite of their potential in terms of agriculture and tourism.
Therefore, when the democratic government took over in 1994, the challenge was
not only to address historical imbalances but also to face new challenges
imposed by crime, AIDS and poverty. It is in this context that we set our self
a goal of achieving a better life for all. A well-maintained road network is of
critical importance in social reconstruction, especially in rural areas like
here at Umsinga because this will, in turn create favourable conditions for
peace, democracy and development and these are preconditions of 'A better life
for all'.
I have always stated that during my tenure of office, I will endeavour to
defend the weak and increase access in rural areas by fast-tracking the
building of roads and the constructing of bridges to link-up communities with
social, cultural, academic and economic amenities. Hence, it gives me great
pleasure to announce that today we are also launching 'Operation
Kushunquthuli'. In this operation we are strengthening our commitment to bring
hope to those communities most in need so that they too can have just cause to
celebrate a better life for all.
We are changing people's lives through the construction of pedestrian
bridges from Umthavuna in the south to Pholongolo in the north. A study we
conducted reveals that we need 146 pedestrian bridges, but the Department of
Education has added 100 more. These are needed to help our school children
whose lives are often in danger as a result of flooded rivers and are forced
not to attend school during the summer months, especially when it rains.
This operation means that no one, neither individuals nor organisations,
will stop us from restoring the dignity of teachers who have to undress when
they cross rivers. In closing, I want to emphasise that the Department of
Transport has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that our people have a
safe and reliable transport system in the province. I am emphasising road
safety here because it has become clear that there is no use to build roads
that will kill our people. We need to strengthen our road safety awareness
campaigns wherever we are, so that we build roads in order to develop people
and not to kill them.
I am aware that some people say that they are tired of Cele, he talks too
much. Fortunately, I am not alone, but I am just one of the many ambassadors of
road safety in our province and indeed our country. Ambassadors of safety on
our roads are not only the many celebrities we work with, including soccer
stars and radio disc jockeys (DJs). But our real road safety ambassadors are
the members of the bereaved families who carry the permanent scares of losing
their loved-ones or having to take care of maimed and disabled loved ones.
We believe that one of the best ways to convey and reinforce the safety
message on our roads is to use our role models, people we like or look up to in
society because we see them on television or listen to them speak on radio. My
department has also produced a documentary that shows our people, our mothers
and fathers and sisters and brothers and relatives and friends dead on the
road. At least you can see it on Digital Video Disc (DVD), we see it live; not
once, but many times.
I would like to urge all road users to respect one another; pedestrians must
give the necessary respect to motorists, and vice-versa. We at the Department
of Transport say one dead is one too many. Each person that dies or is
seriously injured on our roads is a tragedy for the individuals, the families
and communities and for the nation as a whole. Cedrick Mkhize, a shining star
in rugby, is one of the latest practical examples of how road is capable of
depriving us of fine talent.
The musicians and soccer stars that have been lost on the road bear
testimony to the cold fact of loss that we have to endure in silence each time
tragedy strikes on the road. You will endure it silently, not me as MEC for
Transport it is my responsibility to say enough is enough! If road safety is
not effective, then we are left with no option but to crack the whip. We shall
not hesitate to use our full law enforcement agencies to force people to toe
the line on our roads.
Soon we will deprive drivers of the privilege of driving on our roads if
they are reckless because every bad driver is a potential killer. Soon we will
have to take your license if you are a repeat offender and thereby pre-empt
your committing a crime of murdering someone on the road. With those words, I
wish to stress that we must continue to strive to increase respect for human
life and treat road carnage with the seriousness it deserves.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
18 October 2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kzntransport.gov.za)
