T Mhlahlo: Launch of the OR Tambo Sakha Isizwe Projects

31 May 2007

Today marks a turning point in the living conditions of the people of Port
St Johns and the entire OR Tambo District, as government has delivered
according to its promise. It is a widely known fact that Eastern Cape,
especially the OR Tambo District, has a challenge in terms of road
infrastructure and the Department of Roads and Transport has a responsibility
to address this challenge, which we inherited from the previous regime. Our
Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP) highlights the importance of
transport infrastructure investment in the realisation of our economic growth
targets.

The Department of Roads and Transport remains committed to the achievement
of the PGDP targets and our role is to ensure that our transport system and
infrastructure complement the broader economic growth and development programme
of government. The new approach that has been adopted by the provincial
government, which involves integration of roads and transport planning, has
given impetus to our broad infrastructure development strategy. Through our
newly-introduced Sakha Isizwe Community-Based Transportation Programme, we have
been able to build and maintain our roads, especially in rural areas, while
simultaneously creating work and fighting poverty through labour-intensive
methods as we promised through the African National Congress (ANC) Manifesto in
2004.

As we speak, there are Sakha Isizwe Projects, which are being implemented by
the Department of Roads and Transport in areas such as Port St Johns, Qaukeni,
King Sabata Dalindyebo, Ntabankulu and Nyandeni. Presently, we have 1 995
Household Contractors throughout the province on which R12,9 million had been
spent. Of this number, 545 households are from the OR Tambo region in areas
such as KSD, Mhlontlo and Ntabankulu. The district office has further added 310
temporary household contractors.

This year, we want to increase this number to 5000 and give each district
office R10 million to expand the programme. Through this programme, poor
households maintain certain stretches of road and obtain salaries from the
department. Their work entails road maintenance, upgrading, construction, focus
on roadside animal management, fencing, pedestrian safety, footpaths,
non-motorised transport, gabion basket manufacturing, rangers etc. This new
programme is expected to create an estimated 30 000 additional work
opportunities over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework period, thus 5 000 per
district. It would further result in the construction of approximately 300km of
new low volume roads and the maintenance of approximately 5 500 km of existing
roads, thus significantly improving the quality of the overall provincial road
network and transportation system.

The targeted roads will assist in improving accessibility to economic
activities, tourism opportunities, schools, clinics and other government
services. Some of the targeted roads in this district include, Mqanduli to
Hluleka, Port St Johns R61, R61 from Mampube to Town, Port St Johns (DR08191),
Mbizana (DR 08112 & DR 08113), Nyandeni (DR 08313), Ngqeleni to Mahatma
Mouth, Corhana to Ngqeleni, Ntabankulu (DR 08125 & DR08106) and Lusikisiki
to Mbotyi

The department has allocated R17 million for regravelling of roads by our
in-house Road Maintenance Unit in Ntabankulu, Qaukeni, Port St Johns, Nyandeni,
King Sabata Dalindyebo, Mbizana and Mhlontlo between 2007 and 2008. In an
effort to accelerate road maintenance by this unit, today we are officially
handing over two graders to the O R Tambo District. These two graders form part
of the first 12 graders worth R16,4 million that have been purchased by the
department as a start of the substantial recapitalisation of the Yellow Fleet
over the next 10 years.

Since last year, we started the tarring of the streets of Ngangelizwe
Township in Mthatha through our newly-introduced Sakha Isizwe Community-Based
Transportation Learnership Programme, which has benefited 120 young people who
are expected to work for a period of two and a half years at a cost of R3,8
million. Furthermore, the department has allocated R6 million for the
revitalisation of the Mthatha City road infrastructure due to the upcoming
developments in the OR Tambo region which would require government to
reposition the town and change its outlook. We have further allocated R16
million for the building of a taxi rank in that town and I hope that the taxi
industry would appreciate this effort.

The Wild Coast Region and Port St Johns, in particular, remains the flower
of this Province when it comes to tourism potential and government has an
obligation to enhance that potential. Hence today we are handing over two boats
worth R589 000, which would assist the Noqekwana Community and tourists to
cross the Umzimvubu River. On that note, I would like to request all of you to
rise for one minute for a moment of silence in remembrance of those who lost
their lives while attempting to cross this River. In an effort to realise the
objectives of creating Integrated Rural Mobility Access (IRMA), we have built a
5km pedestrian and bicycle path worth R4 million which will further improve
safety on our roads through promotion of non-motorised transportation.

Today, we are further handing over 950 bicycles for rural learners in this
region as part of our Shova Lula Bicycle Project. We have further allocated an
additional R3 million for this project and R2 million for animal drawn wagons,
which will be distributed to all districts to provide public transport
alternative for our rural communities. The design of the second phase of the
PGDP Wild Coast Meander has been completed and very soon, the upgrading of the
road from Tombo Store on the R61 in Port St Johns to Isilimela hospital will
commence.

Over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, the department
will design and construct 1 100 km of new surfaced roads. This will be spread
amongst the districts with 206 km in the OR Tambo District. We further plan to
surface the roads to Madwaleni and Greenville Hospitals in 2009. The
identification of specific roads will be guided by the municipalities'
Integrated and Development Plan (IDP) formulation process. In order for us to
successfully provide safe passage for our people and visitors when using our
roads, road signs are very critical and the Department has adopted the road
from Port St Johns to Port Edward as a pilot for the promotion of road signs
for tourism development.

Two weeks ago, the department advertised a Traffic Safety Management
Leanership targeting young matriculants with full exemption, who are aspiring
to become Road Safety Officers. This time we are targeting 10 young people from
the OR Tambo District, with a particular focus on King Sabata Dalindyebo (2),
Nyandeni (1), Qaukeni (2), Mbizana (1), Ntabankulu (2), Mhlontlo (1) and Port
St Johns (1). This week, we advertised bursaries for 20 traffic officers, of
which three will be from this region, Mbizana (1) and Lusikisiki (2).

The department has allocated R1,5 million for a 12 month internship
programme targeting 56 unemployed graduates from all over the province and
interns would get a stipend depending on their qualifications. Diplomats will
get R2 226 per month, while degree holders will get R3 378 per month. These
interns will work in various directorates and districts of the department,
including finance, supply chain management, human resource management, human
resource development, government motor transport, MEC's office, Head of
Department's office, public transport, transport planning, traffic safety and
traffic control.

The restructuring of this district's bus services has finally reached a
stage of distributing the buses. Local individual small bus operators have
established a single legal entity called Africa's Best 350 Ltd (AB350) which is
a 100% black owned company in which all the bus operators are shareholders.
AB350 is going to purchase 175 brand new buses to service 166 routes in the
former Transkei region. On 19 July 2007, we will be launching the first 24 new
buses at Mbizana and I would like to extend an invitation to all of you. We
want to make that the first 55 buses are distributed in the OR Tambo and Alfred
Nzo districts in this financial year.

For many years, tourism development in the entire Wild Coast was always
inhibited by access to the area but I am happy to announce that the Mthatha
Airport is now under renovation and air traffic volumes have increased from 23%
to 30%. The department has purchased two new fire engines worth R2,5 million,
which will assist in increasing the airport's emergency capacity and improve
its grades from four to six. Discussions and consultations are taking place
with regard to the establishment of a second airline to service the
Johannesburg-Mthatha route. We further envisage a link from Mthatha to Durban
as soon as the correct type of service is developed. An important goal is the
linking of Port Elizabeth to Mthatha via Bhisho with the service geared for
faster movement between the three areas which have been identified for the 2010
World Cup.

In conclusion, I would like to call upon all mayors and councillors to
participate in transport forums in order to ensure integrated planning.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
31 May 2007