by Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe
3 October 2006
Premier � S'bu Ndebele
MEC - Bheki Cele
Head of Department - Dr KB Mbanjwa
Government officials
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to return to Ulundi, eight months after our
previous visit. When we first came to Ulundi, work was quite advanced at the
construction site of the bridge at Kwa-Qwasha and I reassured the community
then that the government partnership approach across the spheres that we had
adopted would deliver the much-needed river crossing infrastructure to bring
relief to the people of the area.
We have just been to the now-complete Kwa-Qwasha river bridge to officially
open it to the public. This project, thanks to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of
Transport (KZNDOT) and the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)
has not only delivered on the brief, but it has gone "an extra mile" by
improving the access road on both sides of the bridge to enhance access to the
bridge.
It has also enhanced connectivity of this road and crossing to the
provincial road network system. We are also here today to officially open the
completed phase one of the P700 road, which is a strategic road link for the
province of KwaZulu-Natal. This road, when complete will provide the much
needed road link between Ulundi and Empangeni/Richards Bay on the west side of
the Hluhluwe/Mfolozi Park via Ntambanana. This project is part of the four
cities initiative of the province that intends to link the cities of Ulundi,
Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg and Durban. This is a very important and
necessary initiative indeed, which will ensure that development and economic
activities are distributed equitably across the provincial landscape.
The construction of the Kwa-Qwasha Bridge across the White Umfolozi River
brings long-awaited relief for both the Qwasha and Mpungamhlophe communities.
It specifically addresses a long standing challenge of the scholars of the
Nomzimane High School, who for years have had to cross this dangerous river to
get to school. As you know, many accidents have occurred during the navigation
of this river for a long time now, and they have led to the unfortunate and
unnecessary loss of lives of people in this area.
I am pleased today to announce that the reported 60 pupils (who constitute
24% of the total enrolment) that had to brave crossing the White Mfolozi River
daily do not have to do this anymore. I'm pleased to announce that today
government is saying that your lives are valuable to us and the future of your
area depends on you. Government is committed to ensuring your safety and right
to life through the provision of facilities such as the Kwa-Qwasha Bridge to
ensure that the community is able to go on with "the business of the day",
without risking their lives.
In addition, with this project government has now eliminated the dilemma
that has always confronted the community of the Qwasha area, i.e. making a
choice between travelling 45 kilometres to Ulundi using the currently irregular
public transport service or walking approximately five kilometres to the Qwasha
permanent clinic by crossing the dangerous river. The new bridge and accesses
now allow the safe passage of both pedestrians and vehicles simultaneously
across the river. The crossing also brings communities on both sides of the
river together like never before (i.e. the AmaNtombela community of Qwasha and
the AmaShandu community of Mpungamhlophe). The bridge and accesses provide a
direct connection to road D1728, which will result in a 50% reduction in travel
distance (i.e. 23 kilometres shorter) to Ulundi, as well as ensure connectivity
with the provincial road network system.
The project has invested R6 million, which will remain as an economic
benefit for the local community. This is because the terms of the project
ensured that the selected project contractor sourced all materials from the
Ulundi area and employed all artisans and labour from adjacent communities. In
addition, job creation was maximised through the application of Expanded Public
Works Programme (EPWP) principles of labour intensive construction in the
construction of the bridge and accesses.
In addition, the contract also demanded that an established construction
company forms a joint venture with Stage 4 Vukuzakhe contractors registered on
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport's register of emerging contractors. This
arrangement facilitated the provision of mentorship and administration support
to the emerging contractors, while guaranteeing resource supply, a performance
guarantee and insurance for the project.
With reference to Main Road P700, the main intervention was to surface the
hitherto gravel road from Ulundi to Empangeni/Richards Bay thus improving
mobility on this important route, while also providing better access from
Ulundi to Empangeni/Richards Bay via Ntambanana. This road also opens up a
major development corridor in a large rural area to the west of the
Hluhluwe/Mfolozi Park covering the Ximba, Mpungose, Somopo and Obuka
communities. The development of this road will support local economic
development in these areas and contribute to poverty alleviation. This will be
achieved primarily through the facilitation of eco-tourism, agricultural
activities and business opportunities as a direct result of good road
infrastructure provision.
The project has been broken into two phases, namely the 35 kilometres
section from Ulundi to Cengeni Gate and the 58 kilometres second section from
Lulwane to Empangeni. This event thus signals the completion and opening of
phase one, as well as the initiation of phase two. R142,5 million has been
spent on phase one, leaving a significant percentage of this investment within
the affected areas.
Government today commits to completion of the second phase and my provincial
counterparts inform me that work has already commenced in this regard with the
construction of a major bridge over the White Mfolozi River. Government will
continue to use these projects as tools for transformation and tools for the
entrenchment of our democracy.
In this regard the EPWP, Construction Charter, and Local Economic
Development, among other government programmes will continue to feature
prominently in phase two, as well as in the other legs of the four cities
initiative of the province. In conclusion, I would like to remind you of a
statement that was made by your Premier and fellow comrade S'bu Ndebele during
his tenure as MEC for Transport in KwaZulu-Natal, which remains relevant even
now, and I quote, "if our budgets are not reaching grassroots communities and
making a tangible difference in the lives of poor people who are our majority
citizens and our majority voters - then we, as government, will have failed in
the mandate we have been given by the people of South Africa."
Asiqhubeni ngokubambisana nokusebenza kanzima, siqinisekise ukuthi
inkululeko nentuthuko zifinyelela kubo bonke abantu bakithi. Nginifisela usuku
olumnandi kanye nokuphepha uma senibhekise amabombo emakhaya.
Ngiyabonga.
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
3 October 2006
Source: SAPA
