MP, at the official launch of the Integrated Rural Mobility and Access (IRMA)
project, Greater Tubatse Local Municipality
11 February 2006
This event today is a clear indication that our government continues to be
inspired by the level of hope being demonstrated by our people in the Greater
Tubatse.
Our people continue to be confronted by the challenges of access to
transport and to economic opportunities. The National Household Travel Survey
of 2003, demonstrates that more than 60% of rural households in South Africa
have access problems regarding public transport. The survey also highlighted
the challenges of scholar transport and noticed that out of 16 million
learners, about eight million of them walk to school everyday.
These challenges have inspired the Department of Transport to develop a
rural transport development programme and the IRMA project. These projects are
aimed at improving the use of non-motorised transportation systems and
infrastructure through the promotion of the use of animal drawn carts, bicycles
etc, in the Greater Tubatse and other areas similar to it.
My Department will implement a number of interventions amounting to R30
million over a period of three years in your area, let alone other parts of our
country. Our event today is indeed a great start. I am delighted to announce
that we are handing over 400 bicycles to needy learners in the Greater Tubatse
area. The Department of Education has also agreed to assist us with the
monitoring of these bicycles and their maintenance.
I'm also glad to announce that the good news will continue in Tubatse with
the implementation of a number of other government initiatives. We will
soon:
* Upgrade the 1,5km feeder road between the R36 and this Multi-Purpose
Community Centre (MPCC);
* Upgrade the 6km access road between Makopung, Banareng and the river
crossing;
* Upgrade the 2,5km of the access road between Makgwareng to Banareng,
including river crossing and
* The construction of cycling and pedestrian paths along the road between
Lekgwareng and Dinkwanyane High School will soon take place.
Labour intensive methods will be introduced for the implementation of
infrastructure projects thereby creating employment for the people of Greater
Tubatse. We believe that these projects will not only reduce the unemployment
levels in your area but will also facilitate your access to mainstream economic
opportunities in other parts of our country.
In the near future, I will return to the Greater Tubatse to monitor whether
these projects are indeed changing the lives of our people. We would also
therefore like to appeal to the municipalities to integrate these projects into
their Integrated Development Planning and budget processes. They should take
the example from the Limpopo Province which has already incorporated rural
accessibility into their 5-year delivery plan. These collaborations will in no
doubt improve the export route for Limpopo-based products. In a month's time
all South Africans will have an opportunity to once again elect their own local
government, we must all go out in numbers to ensure that we elect a local
government that is ready to serve us.
Viva Learners Viva
Viva Greater Tubatse Viva
Viva Limpopo Province Viva
Re a leboga!
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
11 February 2006
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za)
