I was sworn into office on the 10 November 2010. In the past week I have received extensive briefings from the Head of Department, Ms Benedicta "Benny" Monama and other senior officials, on the scope and range of work of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. Over the next few days I intend meeting with external stakeholders in the roads and transport sector to understand their perspectives and to hear their concerns about our work. In due course, I will also be meeting with members of the media to brief them on my future policy priorities.
The challenge to provide a safe road and reliable public transport system remains a strategic thrust of this department. The department has moved from planning to implementation. Thus, in the last quarter, the department has accelerated its pace of delivery as reflected in this report. For this I am grateful to the leadership and stewardship of my predecessor and colleague, MEC Bheki Nkosi.
It is with great pleasure that I present to you our department's key achievements and challenges for the financial year 2010/2011.
Under our road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance capital projects, the following progress can be recorded:
Road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance
Since March this year, Beyers Naude Drive between Honeydew and Zandspruit (D374) [i] and Voortrekker Road from the N14 to Wierda (R55/K71 phase 2) were successfully completed. It is my intention to arrange with local community stakeholders for the official opening of the Beyers Naude Drive in the New Year.
As announced earlier this month by my predecessor, MEC Bheki Nkosi, further construction work on the R55 (R55/K71 Voortrekker Road from Wierda to Laudium) will begin shortly.
With respect to the projects currently under construction, the Bolani Road in Jabulani, Soweto (Koma Street to Emdeni Bridge) is envisaged to be completed in March 2011. Also, Phase 3 of the K29 on Malibongwe Drive (from the N14 to Lanseria Airport) will hopefully be completed in the same period. In total, these projects have created 371 jobs and 14 SMMEs have benefitted financially from them.
Driver/learner testing centres
With the cancellation of the call centre contract for the booking of learner and driver licence tests, the Department has returned since October 2010 to the walk-in booking system at testing stations. In a matter of a few days, 11 178 bookings were confirmed for learner and driver tests. The Department is determined to prevent corruption in this area and to improve the level of services to the public. It is my intention to enter into formal Service Level Agreements with municipalities that are now discharging this responsibility.
On the 27 October 2010, the Department launched the Learner Driver Support Project in partnership with Department of Community Safety and the Gauteng Department of Education. This programme assists Grade 11 and 12 students to obtain Learner's Licences.
The Department will use this programme to establish Satellite Testing Centres for learner drivers in order to improve capacity and to ease the pressure presently experienced at testing centres in Laanglagte, Randburg and Sandton.
Freight implementation plan
The Department is working jointly with the National Department of Transport in finalising roll-out plans for the 2050 Vision: KZN-Gauteng Freight Corridor, which aims to decrease the cost of doing business and to reduce traffic congestion.
In addition, the Department is working in partnership with local municipalities to design a comprehensive Freight Implementation Strategy, which will be aligned to the National Strategy. An example of this is the work done to finalise a Freight Access Strategy for the West Rand District Municipality, which is being co-funded by the Development Bank of South Africa and Blue IQ. The Department is also currently updating its Freight Databank and developing a provincial Transport Air Quality Management Plan.
A Draft Maize Triangle Strategy, focusing on Sedibeng. Metsweding and the West Rand, is being developed in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The intention is to identify mobility interventions on the gravel roads leading to maize silos in these areas. Intelligent Number Plate Project
Next week, the Department will launch a new number plate series. It is my intention to offer the first number in this series to the Premier of Gauteng. The new number plate will be made of aluminum and will include a distinctive security feature. In terms of published regulations, all number plate suppliers are required to register with the Department and a list of registered suppliers will be published on the Department's website for ease of reference.[ii]
Finally, the Department and I fully endorse the national road safety campaign launched by Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele and our sister Department of Community Safety. We believe that road safety in Gauteng starts here; and it starts with me!
[i] The project involved upgrading of 2.4km of the existing two lanes into a dual carriageway; upgrading of stormwater and construction of a 2.5m wide reinforced concrete pedestrian bridge. The project was completed on the 17 September 2010.
[ii] Government Gazette 137 (July 2010) updated as Gazette 180 (20 October 2010).
For more information, contact:
Ms Octavia Mamabolo, Chief Director: Communication and Liaison
Tel: 011 355 7379
Cell: 082 316 8666
E-mail: Octavia.Mamabolo@gauteng.gov.za
