Jeff Radebe, Minister of Transport, OR Tambo Airport
30 September 2007
It is a delight to be able to join this auspicious occasion, which brings
together so many of the leading lights in the transport industry.
Programme Director, I am sure you will agree with me that the October
Transport Month Campaign has gone from strength to strength since the inaugural
launch in 2005. As we embark on our third attempt at it, the real test will be
whether it delivers the desired message and prompts all South Africans to play
their part. Over the years ordinary South Africans have been stalwarts in their
support for this campaign and the campaign has proved to be an excellent
example of accountability on service delivery.
Quite frankly October Transport Month has brought unprecedented levels of
success in showcasing our achievements. And out of all that, it has brought
delivery. The MECs will agree with me that one of the pleasures of our work as
Ministers of Transport has been to witness the delivery of key government
transport projects.
Programme Director, as you are well aware, the single biggest event for
South Africa in recent years will be the hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The Cup is one of the greatest sporting events ever to come to South Africa and
everyone involved in organising the event is determined to make it the best cup
ever.
For our part, we have made significant levels of preparations. This has
involved one of the most intensive and sustained transport plan ever undertaken
and the event itself will be an exciting and spectacular culmination to the
plan. We are pulling out all the stops to ensure that this unique opportunity
is taken advantage of to the fullest extent.
Our Transport Action Plan was approved by Cabinet in 2006. The Public
Transport Infrastructure and Systems Fund (PTIS) was established in 2005 to
allocate funds for the improvement of public transport infrastructure and
systems with an initial focus on projects that will support the successful
hosting of the 2010 Cup. The Public Transport Infrastructure has been allocated
an amount of R9,2 billion for the 2010 event. Programme Director; let me sum up
briefly some of our key projects for 2010 under the flagship of the Public
Transport Infrastructure development. Some of the projects under construction
include:
* the Khulani Corridor in the Eastern Cape at a cost of R321 million
* the N1 and N2 Toll Highway costing R5 billion with 3200 jobs created
* Rea Vaya BRT system in Johannesburg at a cost of R1,3 billion
* the Public Transport Interchange in Ethekwini at a cost of R309 million
* the Sani Pass Road upgrade bordering South Africa and Lesotho costing R200
million
* expanded Public Works Programme projects countrywide costing R3 billion
* the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme at a cost of R23 billion
* the Bus Rapid Transit networks in Tshwane at a cost of R107 million
* the Gautrain Rapid Rail at a cost of no less than R20 billion.
Just as an addition, we are targeting the recapitalisation of 80% of the
current taxi fleet by 2010, having officially scrapped 10 218 old unroadworthy
taxi vehicles already as part of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme. For this
we have paid taxi operators a total of R538 million in scrapping allowances.
Government has set aside R7,7 Billion for this project.
The monitoring and evaluation of these projects in the Host Cities is
currently ongoing, with a panel of project managers having been appointed. This
team will assist my department to report on the progress, financial
performance, as well as monitor under-spending and maladministration. We have
also finalised the development of the Initial National Operational Plan as well
as the operational framework that will guide the development of Host City
Transport Operational Plans. This framework and these guidelines will enable
the Host Cities to start with Operational Planning for the event.
Co-operation with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) was also strengthened
with the release of an official from the Department of Transport to the LOC to
work specifically on transport related preparations. That office has already
begun the development of an LOC Transport Strategy and a Preliminary Draw
Operational Plan.
Ladies and gentlemen, public transport services are also key to a successful
hosting of the World Cup. I am pleased to report that, in February this year,
Cabinet approved the Public Transport Strategy with key projects aimed at
achieving the goal of mass transit public transport networks. An essential
feature of our Public Transport Strategy 2007 to 2020 deals with the phased
extension of the mode-based vehicle recapitalisation into Integrated Rapid
Public Transport Networks. These networks comprise an integrated package of
Rapid Rail and Bus Rapid Transit priority corridors, especially in major
cities.
More specifically, I am confident that passenger rail will rise to the
challenge of our public transport strategy particular for the 2010 event. The
consolidation of Metro-rail within the South African Rail Commuter Corporation
(SARCC) in May last year has laid the foundations for a quantum improvement in
rail services leading to World Cup. Through the consolidation process, we are
on course in creating a national passenger rail company that will serve as a
powerful instrument in transforming and integrating public transport.
Passenger Rail remains a national competency, however, the SARCC is working
very closely with metros and other municipalities to ensure that rail services
are delivered in a manner that supports integrated transport plans (ITPs)
developed by local government. The introduction by Metro-rail of the express
services within the current rail environment will also go a long way towards
creating a culture of public transport among all South Africans. Metro-rail has
introduced this service in Soweto, but I am aware that similar services will be
introduced between Johannesburg and Tshwane, in Cape Town as well as eThekwini
Region. We will use the express service to transport visitors to the games to
be held at the First National Bank (FNB) Stadium as well as Loftus in
Tshwane.
We expect that the express service will also be deployed effectively as part
of our transport operation plans for both the Confederations Cup in 2009 and
ultimately the games in 2010. The Federation International Football Association
(Fifa) family, international visitors and our own people stand to benefit from
improved mobility and better public transport.
As you are aware, the SARCC will construct a station next to the FNB Stadium
as part of the World Cup preparations. The Corporation also intends to build a
station next to the new Orlando Stadium in Soweto. In addition, the SARCC will
also invest resources to upgrade and improve stations such as Langlaagte, New
Canada and Naledi as well as the Doorfontein-Ellispark Stations in
Johannesburg.
The SARCC is also involved in addressing the challenges to integrate
commuter rail with the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link service through the building of
a new station at Rhodesfield. Most of these interventions are already underway
and should contribute to the improvement of rail services leading to 2010. The
construction of the Gautrain is also well on track and we are confident that
parts of the Gautrain essential for the World Cup will be completed before
2010.
I am encouraged that the SARCC is taking concrete steps to also take forward
the Rail Plan approved by Cabinet in December 2006. This plan has given us the
opportunity to secure the future for passenger rail within the public transport
system. There is a strong demand for public transport, and more specifically,
rail services around the breadth and length of our country. Through its
Metrorail and later Shosholoza Meyl services, the SARCC should be able to
deliver an affordable, safe and reliable passenger rail service.
I am aware that the Rail Plan, developed through consultation between
national, provincial and local government and the SARCC, proposes in excess of
40 new railway extensions. Further work is underway between the SARCC and the
Department of Transport that will ensure that additional rail corridors are
identified in the rural areas of South Africa, which will ensure that mobility
for the rural masses is further enhanced and they are able to participate in
the economic and social development of our country.
We hope that with the transfer of Shosholoza Meyl to SARCC next April, the
SARCC will be able to deliver long distance as well as regional services.
Shosholoza Meyl also has a critical role in unleashing the development
potential of our rural people and its services should not only be about
long-distance, but rather regional services within provinces.
I must say that we also expect Shosholoza Meyl to play a leading role in the
provision of transport for spectators wishing to attend games between
Johannesburg to Durban as well as between Johannesburg and Bloemfontein during
the World Cup.
These initiatives by the SARCC confirm the fundamental point that there is a
clear plan for passenger rail to meet passenger demands. Government is putting
huge resources to ensure that rail assumes its rightful position as the
backbone of the public transport in this country.
Let me reemphasise that our plan is to ensure that by 2010, there is a train
available every five minutes in the peak. We will need to ensure that train
services are available for at least 14 to 16 hours a day. We have committed
almost R10 billion to upgrade both rolling stock and infrastructure over the
next three years. This will also be coupled by investment in operations worth
more than R6 billion rising to R16 Billion.
As we have heard this morning, part of the major preparations for 2010 and
beyond are the ground breaking developments of our airports. These developments
are designed to ensure that airports can provide a safe and welcoming entry and
exit point for the millions of people who use our airports in South.Africa the
smaller airports are particularly becoming important players in spreading the
benefits of economic and tourism growth. Three weeks ago I had the pleasure of
officially opening the new terminal at the George Airport, but even more
recently I was delighted with the sod-turning, marking the building of a brand
new Airport at La Mercy.
Today's official opening of the R535 million international pier is part of
the extension of the international terminal building here at OR Tambo
International and represents yet another milestone in the planned
infrastructural developments ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The official opening
also reaffirms our commitment and that of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)
to develop airport infrastructure in line with passenger growth through its
R19,3 billion infrastructure development programmes. The new international pier
is therefore one of many major developments scheduled for completion within the
next two and a half years here at OR Tambo International.
Operations at the Pier are already running smoothly, enabling improved
service offering to the 7,9 million international passengers passing through OR
Tambo International this last year. The increased number of boarding gates,
holding lounges and airside commercial areas that this double level structure
encompasses, has started easing international travellers into their journeys,
and this together with the new expansion to the existing international terminal
building will further enlarge the international departures check-in areas.
The second and final phase of the pier project is scheduled for July next
year when the retail mall extension and new mezzanine lounges will be
completed. I am pleased to announce that this project was built using a
multitude of local consultants and contractors and has contributed in excess of
34% towards Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) overall and more
impressively nearly 49% on the professional design team. With one of our
largest infrastructural developments at OR Tambo International now in
operation, we are confident that the airport precinct will be a
construction-free zone by the beginning of 2010. We want to improve the
capacity and service standards at our airports as we are now only 984 days away
from the prestigious Soccer World Cup. The launch today is a reminder that the
socio-economic benefits that will flow from the successful hosting of the World
Cup are unimaginable. We must therefore continue to keep our focus on the work
at hand.
We must build upon our successes and this requires single-minded
determination to achieve. And as we launch the transport month campaign, let us
collectively accelerate the implementation of all our initiatives. I believe
the result will benefit al South Africans. This is our shared objective. And by
working closely together, it can be our shared achievement.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Transport
30 September 2007
Source: SAPA
