T Mhlahlo: Roads and Transport projects launch

10 May 2007

Today marks a turning point in the living conditions of our people and the
struggle against poverty and underdevelopment in this province.

Government is here to show commitment to its promise to the people of this
region and the province as a whole of creating more work and fighting poverty
through investing in infrastructure development.

The current phase of implementation of the Provincial Growth and Development
Plan (PGDP) requires a speedy response from our road infrastructure and public
transport systems.

With the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World
Cup around the corner, we are obliged to accelerate the provision of a road
network and quality public transport. The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is the
selected host city in the province, where a 50 000 seater stadium is being
constructed. However, it is an irrefutable fact that the success of this
international football showpiece is dependent mainly on our ability to provide
world-class infrastructure and systems that will not only support the event but
will be enjoyed by all South Africans well beyond 2010.

In response to this challenge, the Department of Roads and Transport will,
amongst other things, focus in the development, restoration and maintenance of
the provincial network. The surfacing of this 15 kilometre road and upgrading
of storm water infrastructure in Tyoksville, here, is one of the Department of
Roads and Transport's contributions to the Presidential Urban Renewal
Programme, which seeks to improve the living conditions of residents, vehicle
access and the overall appearance of the area.

The project has played a significant role in the reduction of poverty and
job creation as it created employment for 45 local people, training and
development of labour in project-related technical skills.

A total of 15 small-medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) were involved in
the project, which cost the department R12,5 million. An amount of R1 million
was spent on local labour, which comprised 28% of women, 56% of youth and one
percent of disabled persons.

This initiative forms part of the department's 10 year plan to change the
ratio of surface to gravel roads, with 80% of the 43 465 kilometres provincial
network to surface and 20% to remain gravel.

This initiative will be supported by the substantial recapitalisation of the
yellow fleet over the next 10 years. Hence today we are officially handing two
of the first 12 graders worth R16,4 million that have been purchased by the
department as a start of the recapitalisation project, which will be
distributed to all districts in the province to maintain our road network.

Two operators and artisans per each machine have been trained by the service
provider with regards to operation and maintenance requirements.

This is the first time since 1994 that the democratic government
recapitalises its yellow fleet. The fleet did not form part of the government
fleet management contract with Fleet Africa.

Already, one of these graders has been dispatched to Kliplaat for the
construction of the road between that town and Jansenville, which is one of the
Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) projects.

In that project, the department has assembled some of its in-house resources
and teamed them up with 170 locals of these towns to upgrade 27 kilometres of
gravel road to a paved surface.

Twelve local women were trained through the project in sewing and they are
now providing all the workers with protective clothing. Some of the residents
have converted their homes into lodging facilities, namely Siseko Sovuyo Lodge,
to accommodate some of our staff members.

Other locals are trained in various fields such as fencing, brick making and
bricklaying, culvert laying and bridge construction. As part of our
contribution to skills development, the department is busy restoring its own
internal capacity through creating Centres of Excellence in Graaff-Reinet and
Grahamstown. The primary focus of these centres will be the transfer of skills
to both in-house maintenance and construction units as well as to communities.
These will serve as the fountain of technical, technological and engineering
advancement for both the department and communities, as they would focus on
labour-intensive methods of construction (EPWP) and mentoring of internal
resources.

This concept is in line with the PGDP objectives as it would give content
and effect to government's overall strategic objective of developing human
capital to meet the acute shortage of technical and entrepreneurial skills. The
department's project and programme management capacity will be enhanced by
means of undertaking structured internship and learnership programmes.

The successful interns and learners will then be appointed should vacancies
exist. The department's bursary holders will also get hands-on experiential
training and sharpen their project management skills at these centres. This
year, R2,5 million will be spent in the creation of more jobs in this region
through our newly-introduced Sakha Isizwe Community-Based Transportation
Programme.

A total of 500 household contractors will be employed in areas such as
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan, Camdeboo, Blue Crane Route, Makana, Ndlambe,
Sunday's River, Kouga, Koukamma, Baviaans and Ikwezi.

Each area will have 50 household contractors.

Last year, during the launch of Ikamvelihle road project, a request was made
by the community of Motherwell for an overhead bridge for pedestrians. An
amount of R3 million has been made available for the construction of that
bridge as was requested.

An amount of R10 million has been made available for EPWP projects that will
be identified throughout the region. Over the next three years, we will see the
upgrading of the Motherwell to Addo Main Road with a budget of R80 million. The
contractor is already on site.

Another R80 million has been allocated for the N2 to Maku Street, which is a
project that has been jointly funded by the Department of Roads and Transport
(R55 million) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (R25 million).
In an effort to promote road safety awareness among learners, two Junior
Training Traffic centres will be constructed this year in Uitenhage and
Zwide

Education of our children continues to be one of government's main
priorities and we have a duty to ensure that we facilitate their movement
between their homes and learning centres.

To achieve this, the Department of Roads and Transport has purchased 5 333
bicycles, school bags and helmets for Eastern Cape learners as part of the
roll-out process of our Shova Lula Bicycle Project. Each district will receive
800 bicycles. Today, we have a sample of these bicycles. Furthermore, we will
spend R3 million in this financial year to purchase more bicycles and R2
million for 12 animal drawn wagons for learners who travel long distances to
reach their schools.

Each district will receive two wagons as a start.

As part of intensifying our strategy in preparation for 2010, we will
continue to improve the co-ordination and implementation of our public
transport plans to ensure that we present our visit with a quality service.

Today, I am happy to introduce the newly appointed Provincial Operating
Licences Board, which is responsible for overseeing public transport operations
in the Eastern Cape. The members are: Mr Kesu Padayachee (Chairperson), Mr
Mzwandile Bitterhout, Mr Xola Pakati, Ms Nomaci Qabaka, Ms Nomonde Mzamane and
Mr Sizwe Mbuyazwe.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish them all the best in their
work of making sure that we present our people with a safe, affordable and
reliable public transport system.

A lot of work has already been done in this province in facilitating the
recapitalisation of the old taxi fleet under the leadership and guidance of
this board.

As we speak 1 141 taxi vehicles have been submitted at the Main Scrapping
Site in Zwelitsha since the launch of the scrapping process on 14 December
2006. Already, 861 taxi operators have received their R50 000 scrapping
allowance, which translates to more than R43 million that has been paid out to
operators in the province. There are 126 pending payments, which are expected
to be done in the next 48 hours.

A total of 1 414 scrapping applications have already been approved by the
system and those vehicles are expected to be submitted to the scrapping site
this month.

Again today, I am happy to introduce the 24 newly appointed public transport
inspectors, who will form part of the new unit that has been set up by the
department in terms of Section 122 of the National Land Transport Transition
Act 22 of 2000 to monitor compliance of all public transport operators with the
provisions of the Act in the province.

These inspectors were trained in the National Land Transport Transition Act
(Act 22 of 2000), Road Transportation Act (Act 74 of 1977), Criminal Procedure
Act (Act 51 of 1977), Provincial Regulations, Law of Evidence, Criminal Law,
Bill of Rights and South African Law.

Their duties will, amongst other things, include monitoring of taxi
operators' compliance to their operating licences, checking of public transport
vehicles (buses and taxis) conditions etc.

I also wish them all the best in their work and hope that they would
undertake their task with great vigour and "clean hands".

We are also soliciting advice and assistance on public transport matters
from the international community. On Monday, I will meet three transport
experts from Germany, who are here to share ideas and possible scenarios
towards co-ordinated planning of a proposed Provincial Transport Demand
Management Plan for 2010. They will also share their experiences with the
Provincial Transport Working Group which includes representatives from
different authorities, including the Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City and King
Sabata Dalindyebo Municipalities.

We are further targeting the Nelson Mandela Bay for the implementation of
our "Back to Rail" Strategy. The department has allocated R4 million for the
development of a Provincial Rail Plan, which will guide our strategy. This plan
includes investigation of a possible introduction of rail passenger services to
the Western Suburbs of Port Elizabeth and services into KwaZakhele before the
2010 World Cup.

We are still engaged in discussions with the South African Rail Commuter
Corporation (SARCC) concerning the Motherwell Loop in order to have it in
operation well before the 2010 event. We are further investigating the
possibility of introducing a train tourism service further up the Langkloof and
in Somerset East and Graaff-Reinet.

We have allocated R10 million for the upgrading of the Narrow Gauge line
(Port Elizabeth to Avontuur) as we intend to commence the operations in 2008.
This year, the department, in consultation with relevant stakeholders,
including the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, will ensure
that we bring back the Great Train Race in that line.

In conclusion, all these initiatives seek to facilitate the mobility of our
people through offering effective and efficient transportation infrastructure
and systems that would further contribute to local economic growth and
development.

Our role as members of the community is to continue to build a united front
in partnership with government to ensure that we present a successful
tournament and invest in the future of our children.

Thank you.

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