2006/07 presented by MEC B Cele
24 April 2006
Mr Speaker
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Members of the Transport Portfolio Committee
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Fellow citizens
All protocol observed
Introduction
âThe brighter day is rising upon Africa. Already I seem to see her chains
dissolved, her desert plains red with harvest, her Abyssinia and her Zululand
the seats of science and religion, reflecting the glory of the rising sun from
the spires of their churches and universities. Her Congo and her Gambia
whitened with commerce, her crowded cities sending forth the hum of business
and all her sons employed in advancing the victories of peace, greater and more
abiding than the spoils of war.â
(Pixley ka Isaka Seme April 1906)
Seme wrote in the long shadow of Ethiopian Emperor Menelikâs military
victory over Italy at Adowa ten years earlier. Bambathaâs fighters were
confronting injustice in KwaZulu. To the north of us, the Ovambo and Herero,
and the Maji-Maji rebels rose against German butchery. But Seme wrote before
the vicious decapitation of Bambatha scarcely a month later, in May, and just
before the other rebellions were crushed. A few months later Gandhi would
launch his passive resistance campaign and the pendulum of resistance would
swing once more. Relevance of Semeâs words appears to be more favourable and
more realistically attainable in the present era of April 2006 than it was in
April 1906. Prevailing conducive political climate in our country indeed spells
out that there is hope for the weak which we defend as government.
It is probably in this context that President Mbeki passionately spoke about
the Age of Hope and a National Effort for Faster and Shared Growth in his State
of the Nation Address in February 2006.
Mr Speaker, there can be no doubting that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)has entered
into its age of hope.
Hope for the weak
When I addressed this House for the very first time as the MEC for
Transport, Community Safety and Liaison on 26 July 2004, I stated: âthe budget
I present today puts across a very strong message; it is a budget geared
towards defending the weakâ. Honourable members and distinguished guests, each
programme is precisely intended to achieve this end.
How do we as the Department of Transport ensure that the roads we build
benefit the poorest communities?
How do we ensure that the roads we build are a means of access to economic
resources?
How do we at Transport ensure that the public transport we manage is user
friendly, accessible, safe, affordable and ultimately of benefit to the women
and men folk of not only Durban North, uMlazi, but also to the men and women of
uMsinga, oPhongolo and eNhlazatshe?
How do we at Transport ensure that we integrate our road planning network
such that communities in the deep rural areas have access to schools, clinics
and hospitals?
How do we at Transport ensure that there is infrastructure built that would
link communities to one another, thereby enhancing social cohesion?
The big question honourable members and distinguished guests is how do we
ensure that the budget we present today defends the weak thus contributing to
redressing the imbalance of the past, particularly alleviating poverty and thus
bringing a dawn of hope for the weak?
In presenting the budget for the 2006/2007 financial year, I will outline
the progress we have made in answering some of the above questions as well as
make mention of some of the challenges encountered. We remain firmly committed
to âDefending the Weakâ by empowering them to participate in government and in
our market economy. We will continue to ensure that our programmes are
unashamedly pro poor with the upfront intention of bridging the gap indeed
chasm between our first and second economies.
Community consultation and participation
âThe cornerstone of a developmental state is constant dialogue and listening
to the voice of the people, particularly the helplessâ. These were the words of
our Honourable Premier Mr J.S. Ndebele during the State of the Province
Address. One of the hallmarks of my term of office has been and will continue
to be listening to the voice of the people through community consultation and
participation. To this end, the 2005/2006 financial year was extremely hectic
with us travelling the length and breath of our province to see and hear first
hand some of the transport challenges that our people experience. I must say
that whilst the challenges are indeed enormous, I am happy to report that we
are certainly making progress. The change of the provincial landscape suggests
a need to intensify our community outreach efforts. We want to assure the
Honourable House that we welcome uMzimkhulu as the Department of Transport. We
certainly will do our very best to ensure that this municipality is part and
parcel of our service delivery programmes.
As many of you know, we have also visited scenes of road crashes, the injured
at hospital as well as affected family members of almost every major road crash
that occurred on the provinceâs roads. In most cases honourable members I
rationalise rather than put sensation on issues. Emotional control becomes
critical to my day-to-day functioning by virtue of my portfolio; however I must
admit that witnessing the pain and suffering of many of our people in road
crashes literally brought me to tears on many occasions. Therefore, the
struggle against death on our roads must be intensified.
Annual Report-back Summit
Honourable House, the Department of Transport held its annual report back
summit for the first time in Ulundi at the former Legislature buildings.
resolutions taken at the summit Mr Speaker informed our programme of action for
the coming years. It is pleasing to inform this House that indeed this
department walks the talk as most of these resolutions are embedded in the
budget speech under each programmeâs further rearms that we are a government
that is responsive and caring.
KwaZulu-Natal Public Transport Act
Mr Speaker, it is expected of us as government to create policies and
legislation that would enable and facilitate service delivery. I am
particularly proud to report that the KwaZulu-Natal Public Transport Act, Act 3
of 2005 which provides for the transformation and restructuring of the public
transport system in the province, was assented to on 3 November 2005. We look
forward to the benefits that will be derived out of this process.
Transport corridor development
Honourable members, economic development, particularly at a local level
still remains a focal point in the government agenda. The corridor development
as a flagship project as outlined by the Premier continues to receive our
attention and support as the Department. This project focuses on continued
support for the Lebombo Spatial Development Initiative that is linked to the
construction of Main Road 700. The revitalisation of the rail link in the area
of P700 will lead to spin-offs similar to those seen on the M4 to Mpumalanga.
Importantly, the corridor has the potential of linking Richards Bay and
Vryheid.
Mr Speaker, the integrated planning and delivery model followed in the
African Renaissance Road Upgrading Programme (ARRUP) is designed to revive our
rural towns traversed by the corridors of routes including towns like Highflats
and St Faiths ( P68 ), Nongoma and INkandla (P235/P49) and Kranskop (P15). All
ARRUP programmes continue unabated as they have been reported upon previously,
consuming the bigger chunk of the budget of R307million in the current
financial year.
Zibambele Programme
Honourable Members, the Department of Transport KwaZulu-Natal is privileged
to be pioneers of the Zibambele Programme. There are 27 831 Zibambele members
in the 2005/2006 financial year. The target for 2006/2007 are 32041. The
success of the Zibambele Programme receives accolades not only in KZN but in
South Africa as a whole. The programme is currently being replicated by other
Provinces and municipalities in this country. As pioneers of this programme
Honourable House, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport will play a central
role in this replication process. Mr Speaker, previously the Zibambele
programme has been seen as a poverty alleviation programme. However, there has
been a dawn of a new paradigm, which is a shift from poverty alleviation to a
developmental programme. That entails that working with Zibambele Savings Clubs
to form cooperatives or any other viable business deemed appropriate. The
Department of Transport has collaborated with the Department of Agriculture on
a pilot project whereby the Zibambele Savings Club in Vulindlela grows
mushrooms. It is hoped that the Club will derive its income when trading with
school feeding schemes as well as hospitals. In an attempt to formalise this
arrangement the Department is engaging both the Department of Health and
Education on this initiative. We are hopeful of a favourable response in this
regard. Honourable Members, I am pleased to report that this year Zibambele
Savingâs club will be included in the Department of Agriculture and
Environmental and airs plans to secure an equitable share in the banana
industry for black farmers. A pilot programme has been approved as part of the
corridor development plans for ARRUP road P68. Some 70 had of banana saplings
will be planted by September 2006.
Access
Honourable House, access remains the key challenge to service delivery in
Vote 12. The demand for pedestrian bridges and access roads is huge
particularly in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. In a submission to the
Finance and Economic Development Portfolio committee in April 2006 it was put
on record that there is need to be build 146 pedestrian bridges province wide.
With regards to access roads, it was reported also to the portfolio committee
that 2 740 km still remains to be constructed at an estimated cost of R687
million. The Honourable House is well aware of the fact that a special
allocation of R82 million was given to the Department of Transport in the past
financial year. R32 million of that budget was allocated to pedestrian bridges
whilst the rest of the money was allocated to access roads. To date Mr Speaker,
I would like to report that 14 pedestrian bridges were built, whilst over 160km
of access roads were constructed. The backlog remains huge Mr Speaker, however,
we are hopeful that this House would honour us with more budgets to achieve
this end.
Government led initiatives and programmes
Mr Speaker, it is of critical importance to ensure that the ideals of a
seamless government are upheld. To this end, the Department of Transport
pledges its support for all government led programmes as per the mandates of
the government of the day. Operation Mbo, Project Consolidate and the
Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA), amongst others
are such programmes that this department will advocate for. Special attention
on these programmes would be on integrated planning, infrastructure
development, including provincial projects, sector strategies, skills
development and second economy interventions. We will ensure the success of
these programmes. Central to them all is the improvement of the quality of
lives of our people. In the final instance we want to ensure âa better life for
allâ.
Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
The Honourable House is well aware of the fact that the Cabinet of
KwaZulu-Natal led by our Premier entrusted the coordination of the Expanded
Public works Programme to the Department of Transport. I am pleased to announce
that we have established a special EPWP Directorate under the Strategic
Planning Chief Directorate to lead this programme. The rough EPWP we will also
accelerate infrastructure investment in the underdeveloped urban and rural
areas of our province to improve service delivery in the areas of the second
economy, including the provision of roads and rail. Challenges faced by the
EPWP entail the sustainability of this programme as well as the application of
EPWP principles in the implementation of the projects even at municipal level.
Mr Speaker would be central to our role as the Department of Transport in
leading this programme.
2010 Soccer World Cup
Allow me Mr Speaker to submit to this honourable House that the success of the
2010 World Cup is at the forefront of our planning in the Department of
Transport amidst budgetary constraints. Road Infrastructure development,
Integrated Transport Planning, a safe, regulated, affordable and efficient
public transport systems as well as overall safety on our roads are the
critical issues that we have embarked upon a drive to ensure that KwaZulu-Natal
and South Africa as a whole is ready to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Collaboration with the national Department of Transport
I would be failing in my duty Mr Speaker if I do not acknowledge the
contribution of the national Department of Transport to infrastructure
development in this Province. The John Ross Highway Project, the Isikhwebezi
River Bridge, the Nkodibe Interchange, the road to eQhudeni, to mention but a
few are evidence of this collaboration with the national Department of
Transport to change the lives of the people of this province. Indeed there is
hope for the weak in KwaZulu-Natal when there is partnership and collaboration
amongst the different spheres of government for the general good.
Mr Speaker,
The African Development Bank has highlighted that there is a âstrong link
between poverty and remotenessâ. It is this gap that we endeavour to bridge
through our transport programmes in the quest to improve the quality of lives
of our people. The sustainability of this improved quality of life would be
realised when the YOUTH of this Province feature and play a meaningful role in
the programmes of the department.
Honourable Members, I must therefore place on record that the KwaZulu-Natal
Department of Transportâs budget for 2006/2007 and the projected MTEF period is
certainly inadequate to secure a balanced road network which will meet the
mobility needs of all citizens within reasonable timeframes as well as address
the above challenges. I will now introduce the budget for Vote 12 on a
programme-by-programme basis.
Programme 1: Administration (R101,7 million)
The budget for Programme 1 is dedicated to the efficient, economical and cost
effective administration of the department and the Once of the MEC as well as
to provide a customer service that is consultative and free of fraud and
corruption.
The strategic objectives of the Programme: Administration, are reflected in
the Departments strategic plan. Key challenges to be addressed include the
following: -
* to accelerate the recruitment and promotion of women into management
positions within the department;
* to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on departmental officials;
* to reduce costs incurred in defending the increasing number and severity of
legal challenges against the department for road infrastructure maintenance and
public transport regulation; and
* the impact of the Wide Network infrastructure and speeds on service
delivery.
I am pleased to announce Mr Speaker that the Department of Transport is
taking the matter of HIV and AIDS very seriously. The budget allocation for
HIV/AIDS was increased from R3 million to R5 million in this financial
year.
Honourable members, the development of the departmentâs human resources is
key to the continued development of the department and equity of our workforce.
Adult Basic Education and Training features prominently in human resource
development and the department takes pride in this programme since it improves
the quality of lives of our people. On 7 April 2006 an ABET graduation ceremony
was held at the YMCA. The number of ABET learners was 1350. 717 learners were
legible to write examinations. 480 learners passed the examination with 56
graduating with merit (excellent) whilst 97 learners attained higher credit
(very good). Mr Speaker, Indeed there is hope for the Weak in the Department of
Transport!
Programme 2: Road Infrastructure (R1,8 billion)
The budget for Programme 2 is dedicated to the provision of a safe, equitable
and balanced road network that meets the mobility needs of all KwaZulu-Natalâs
citizens and our national and provincial growth and development objectives.
In order to provide a safe, equitable and balanced road network: -
* we must ensure our planning provides for the sustainable maintenance of the
road network
* we must ensure that our road network meets the social and developmental needs
of our people
* we must improve access to school, clinics and community facilities
we must contribute to maximising job creation, black economic empowerment and
poverty alleviation
* we must stimulate the growth and development of our second economy, through
the provision of transport infrastructure, in order to promote the integration
of our province.
Mr Speaker the importance placed by the department on the provision of a
safe, equitable and balanced road network can best be illustrated by the fact
that 76% of the departmentâs budget is set aside for this function. This budget
aims to strike a balance between the constructions of roads to provide access
roads and corridors for the areas previously disadvantaged by the policy of
separate development, and the need to maintain the existing road network to an
acceptable standard.
This budget includes R240 million to construct roads to areas previously denied
access, R502 million for the construction of strategic corridors for the
upliftment and economic development of the province and an amount of R811
million for the maintenance of the existing road network. However, despite the
budget increases received over the past years and the increases proposed over
the MTEF period the department remains woefully under funded for the execution
of its mandate.
Other key challenges faced by the department in the Programme Road
Infrastructure, include: -
* the effect of the inadequate budget on: -
- attaining minimum maintenance standards
- providing access to previously disadvantaged communities
- providing pedestrian crossings (bridges
- providing economic infrastructure in order to enable economic.
* the lack of qualified and experienced engineers in the country and
specifically in the department
* realising the vision of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to create
sustainable employment and to reduce poverty
* the integration of transport and infrastructure planning processes across
modes of transport.
Programme 3: Transportation (R36,3 million)
Honourable members, the budget for Programme 3 is dedicated to plan, regulate,
enforce and develop public transport and freight transport in order to ensure
balanced, equitable, safe and sustainable public and freight transport
services.
The strategic objectives of the Programme: Transportation is contained in
the Departmentâs strategic Plan. However, the challenges that remains to be
addressed. These include: -
* the lack of transport planning skills in municipalities and its effect on the
completion of Public Transport Plans
* the resurgent violence in the public transport industry
* the lack of municipal funding for public transport infrastructure
* the financial effects of the taxi recapitalisation programme on our budget,
which have not been provided for by the national Department.
The critical importance of this programme Mr Speaker and the Honourable
House is highlighted by the fact that the department has processed a virement
in the amount of R23 million in orders to provide better public transport
planning and to ensure that volatile issues are addressed before they become a
problem. This virement brings the budget for the Programme: Transportation to
R59,3 million. Capacity building within the public transport sector, which
would include taxi drivers, operators, commuters, with an emphasis on safety
issues, management and customer care would benefit from this increased
budget.
The promotion of non-motorised transport is a critical feature of the public
transport programme, particularly if we are to realize our vision of
âProsperity through Mobilityâ. Honourable members, the department will embark
on a programme of reviving the bicycle project. The success of this project
rests with partnerships that can be formed with various departments. It is
therefore envisaged that the Department of Transport would approach the
Department of Education so as to form a partnership in reviving this
programme.
In its quest to defend the weak, the department will garner its efforts
towards the formation of commuter associations. Capacity building of these
associations would be the driving force behind the empowerment of commuters.
This intended to ensure that commuters are organised, commuters have a voice,
commuters can be listened to and commuters are treated with the respect and
dignity they deserve.
Mr Speaker, the department has moved fast to strengthen the various
structures within the department of Transport. These include the Board, the
Registrar, the Panel of Assessors to mention but a few. This is crucial in
order for the department to roll out the recapitalisation programme in a manner
that is deemed prudent and free of conflict. The new Board Members, Panel of
Assessors and the Registrar have been appointed. At this juncture we would like
to thank the former Registrar for the contribution he made in the
transformation of public transport in KwaZulu-Natal.
I would like to bring to the attention of the House that the bus subsidy
contracts expire at the end of the year 2006. In view of this situation the
department will during the course of the year redesign bus contracts taking
into account empowerment initiatives. This is geared towards an equitable bus
subsidy system in the province as a whole. Indeed Mr Speaker, there is hope for
the Weak in the Department of Transport!
Programme 4: Trace Management (R389,1 million)
The budget for Programme 4 Mr Speaker and the Honourable house, is dedicated to
ensure the provision of a safe road environment through the regulation of trace
on public roads, law enforcement, the implementation of road safety campaigns
and awareness programmes and the licensing of vehicles and drivers. The key
challenges faced and to be addressed by the department in the Programme: Trace
Management Mr Speaker are: -
* the identification, evaluation and design of appropriate remedial road safety
engineering measures
* the continued classification of the RTI as a non-essential service
* the effect of the taxi recapitalisation on the capacity of the Public
Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU)
* the decision by the Department of Justice to refuse to allow magistrates to
preside over roadside courts
* the lack of participation by some schools in road safety education
programmes
* fraud in vehicle testing stations and in motor licence Registering
Authorities
* the capacity of the departmentâs weighbridges being negatively affected by
the WAN bandwidth requirements of the software used.
Programme 5: Community Based Programme (R52,0 million)
Honourable House, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, the budget for
Programme 5 is dedicated to the development of programmes designed to empower
and transfer skills to historically disadvantaged communities, thereby
facilitating the process of active participation in the economy of the country.
The Programme specifically aims to develop and incubate programmes that utilise
the core functions of the department to facilitate the principles of Black
Economic Empowerment (BEE) and rural upliftment.
Vukuzakhe has become a major factor in KZN to the extent that 71% of
opportunities in the ARRUP Programme have been awarded to the Vukuzakhe
contractors. However Mr Speaker there is key challenges faced by the department
in the Community Based Programme which are: -
* the legislation requiring that our Vukuzakhe contractors are registered with
the CIDB
* training requirements of the Vukuzakhe contractors in order to comply with
the requirements of the CIDB.
I am pleased Honourable Members to announce that the Cabinet of
KwaZulu-Natal approved the Provincial Emerging Contractor Development policy
and its implementation. This overhauling policy will be rolled out to other
departments thus assisting emerging contractors to access job opportunities
across all departments.
Conclusion
A glimpse or a snapshot of the department, notwithstanding the challenges faced
by the department, indicates Mr Speaker and the Honourable House that there is
hope for the weak. Collaboration with national, provincial and the local
spheres of government bears testimony of the dawn of hope for the weak!
In the debate of the State of the Nation Address Minister Jeff Radebe said,
âSouth Africa has embarked on a journey that gives flesh to the immortal words
of Patrice Lumumba that, âHistory will one day have its say; it will not be
history taught in the United Nations, Washington, Paris or Brussels, but the
history taught in the countries that have rid themselves of colonialism and its
puppets. Africa will write its own history and both north and south of the
Sahara it will be a history full of glory and dignityâ.
I am convinced that KwaZulu-Natal has begun to write its own history and it
will be a history full of glory and dignity, as we continue âDefending the
Weakâ through the provision of more transport infrastructure such as pedestrian
bridges, access roads, a safer road environment and an effective and efficient
public transport system.
Finally, I would like to use this opportunity to thank my Head of
Department, Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, his dedicated management team, the communication
team in particular as well as the entire staff of the KwaZulu-Natal Department
of Transport for all their hard work and commitment. I would also like to thank
members of the Transport Portfolio Committee for their input to the budget
speech and the cordial relationship that they have with my department. Many
thanks go to the stakeholders of the department of Transport who constantly
advance our cause and keep us on our toes.
A humble appreciation and regards to the team at the Office of the MEC whom
I work with everyday. My job and especially todayâs job is easier because of
your continued support.
It is now my privilege to formally table the Department of Transport Budget
of R2,416 billion for the 2006 / 2007 financial year for approval.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
24 April 2006
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za)
