the Province Address
17 February 2009
The Gauteng Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works believes that it
has exceeded its mandate, which forms part of the broader work of provincial
government, as informed by the strategic objective of bringing about a better
life for all through a government that cares for its people.
To this end, the department has actualised the deepening of democracy by
redefining the role of civil society in government programmes and strengthened
the role of community based organisations.
We have built sound relations with various taxi operators associations and
also worked to build a better public transport system for the future. However,
we have also made it clear that we believe the majority of operators are
committed to a better future for the industry.
And, together with law enforcement agencies we have acted firmly to root out
conflict and the abuse of commuters in all respects. We have put systems in
place to respond comprehensively to challenges. Yet still, more work needs to
be done.
We have also created new platforms for social dialogue. The year 2005 also
saw the department initiating the inaugural transport month, which subsequently
became an annual national programme, something of which we are immensely proud
as a provincial chapter of the transport family in our country.
This programme helped change the face of transport in our province, enabling
government to mobilise both society and resources necessary to build a better
transport system for Gauteng.
We have made a huge departure from a few years ago when transport
infrastructure had less than four billion rand to the current era where
transport now accounts for more than sixty billion in investment for Gauteng
alone. All of this happened because we made a telling contribution to setting a
new agenda for transport.
We also initiated three of first ever one stop centres for the training and
development of emerging contractors in the construction sector, these being
known as construction contact centres where the department provides free
training and development, business facilitation plus registration with the
Construction Industry Development Board.
This initiative has helped thousands of emerging contractors to better
access government business and to provide quality services to the economy of
Gauteng. The department also led the Gauteng transport forum whose work saw to
the signing of the groundbreaking intergovernmental transport charter in the
year 2006.
In this regard, the month of May 2005 also saw Gauteng initiating and
hosting the 2005 intergovernmental infrastructure summit which saw all three
spheres of government get together with civil society in a summit which charted
the way forward for joint mobilisation, coordination and implementation of
infrastructure programmes in our province so as to increase the pace of service
delivery.
All of this represents a huge departure from the old ethos of imposing
solutions on the people of our country to a new era of public governance, where
the people themselves drive the destiny of their respective communities and
their province working side by side with a people's government.
Regarding the role of government in the economy of the province and the
country, Gauteng Government has grown from a simple "night-watchman state" to
that of being at the driving seat of an immense network of organisations and
institutions, taking into account were we come from since 1994.
In keeping with our developmental state objectives, we have moved from just
overseeing or act as an administrator of the economy. Indeed, the Gauteng
provincial government is a leading and active participant in growing the
economy, creating jobs and fighting poverty.
The Gauteng Legislature itself has become an institution of tremendous
importance that contribute significantly to formulating government policy,
interacting with various civil society organisations and exercising oversight
over government departments and agencies.
Regarding the creation of an environment for the development of sustainable
transport solutions and the provision of social infrastructure, our department
is leading the implementation of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, a programme
which has already started to change the spatial and economic backbone in the
area of transport investment.
Currently known as the biggest construction site on the African continent,
Gauteng is also experiencing massive improvements to its entire road network,
from the upgrade of local roads in twenty previously disadvantaged communities
across the province, to the upgrade of provincial roads such as the K15, the
R55 and Malibongwe Drive and the current overhaul of the freeway network
cutting across the province under auspices of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement
Plan, as implemented by South African National Roads Agency Limited
(SANRAL).
Being at the centre of service delivery in the province, our department is
also involved in the construction of five new hospitals that will help Gauteng
Provincial Government to provide a better service to Gauteng residents. These
programmes are aimed at redefining the role of roads networks in the economy
through the creation of an enabling environment for the efficient mobility of
people, goods and services.
The implementation of the Gauteng chapter of the Extended Public Works
Programme has contributed towards the creation of more that 125 000 jobs and
the imparting of much needed technical skills to the populace and the
economy.
One of these projects is the completion of the new Hammanskraal Thusong
Service Centre, which we will be officially opening for public use later this
month.
To date, the implementation of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link has created more
than direct and indirect 35 000 jobs. Thousands of people, especially women and
youth, have also gained rare world class skills in rapid rail construction.
We are currently engaged in the construction of an additional five new
Drivers License Testing Centres that will help address the huge demand for the
service across the province. These are based at Esselen Park, Ormonde, Three
Rivers, Maponya Mall, and the Pretoria, GFleet base.
Regarding 2010 transport readiness, we have worked with the public transport
operators to create a world class metered taxi service, which has already
participated in the Soccerex and also shared Gautrain technologies with our
sister departments in other provinces in the modernisation of rail based
commuter services.
Roads are being massively upgraded in partnership with local and national
government. Municipalities are also implementing modernised public transport
systems.
Our department is currently engaged in the construction of world class
stadium, while other practice venues have already been completed, taking cue
from the stewardship of the MEC Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
Gauteng is the champion of public policy making. Together with the people of
Gauteng, and the Portfolio Committee on Public Transport, Roads and Works, as
well as civil society formations, we have made people-friendly policies and
also implemented people-centred programmes.
As part of the collective visionary known as Gauteng Provincial Government,
we also submit that Gauteng is now a well developed financial, legal and
communications hub, comprising a developed energy and transport sector, with a
stock exchange that is the 17th largest in the world.
We have modern infrastructure that supports an efficient distribution of
goods and services to the entire Southern African region. Indeed, we have made
a contribution towards the making of a better Gauteng.
For more information please contact:
Alfred Nhlapo
Tel: 011 355 7532
Cell: 083 376 8496
Issued by: Gauteng Public Transport, Roads and Works, Gauteng Provincial
Government
17 February 2009
Source: Gauteng Public Transport, Roads and Works, Gauteng Provincial
Government (http://www.transportandpublicworks.gpg.gov.za)
