The National Department of Transport has achieved a huge milestone with the creation of 13 280 jobs and spending R 1.7 billion within the first quarter of its flagship project, S'hamba Sonke Programme launched in April this year.
The programme was adopted by the Ministers of Transport in February 2011 and launched in April 2011. Its implementation is driven by the Provincial Transport Authorities with a specific focus on the restoration of the secondary roads network using a dedicated fund of R22, 3 billion allocated to the National Department of Transport over the next three years, 2011 to 14.
According to the quarterly report tabled at the forum of the Ministers of Transport, the Provinces have made significant progress on job creation against a target of 68 000 jobs with the following jobs created in various provinces: KwaZulu-Natal 4 562, Mpumalanga 3 845, North West 2 120, Gauteng 1 112, Eastern Cape 512, Western Cape 497, Northern Cape 323, Free State 79, Limpopo 230.
As a result of the above jobs created, the following roads functions have been addressed countrywide: 510 988 square metres of road surface resealed, 321 kilometres of road re-gravelled, and 182 629,69 square metres of blacktop patching and 80 304 kilometres of blading.
With a recent study showing that potholes are costing motorists R50 billion in vehicle repair and injury every year, the objectives of the S'hamba Sonke Programme are therefore among others to allocate a sizable amount of budget for pothole repairs on a district by district basis as well as the maintenance and upgrading of heavily trafficked rural transport corridors and ensure access to public facilities.
The Provincial Departments of Transport are required to submit their business plans to the national department for approval and gazetting as per the provisions of the Division of Revenue Act of 2011. They are also required to report progress against the approved business plans to the national Department of Transport on a quarterly basis. The projects being implemented for the current financial year were approved and gazetted as required by the Act.
The national department continues to further encourage all Provincial Transport Authorities to strengthen their engagement with their respective beneficiary stakeholders including emerging contractors, household contractors and professional support firms to ensure that the focus is mainly on the labour intensive methods through which jobs are created with specific targets to maximise the socio economic impact on vulnerable population sectors, enterprise development and integrated sustainable rural economic growth.
The Minister of Transport will embark on a provincial roadshow programme to monitor the progress in this regard. This programme will also be part of providing support to the Provinces on their efforts to meet the S'hamba Sonke objectives of job creation and access to economic opportunities by poor communities.
Enquiries:
Collen Msibi
Spokesman for the National Department of Transport
Cell: 082 414 5279
Transport creates thousands of jobs through roads rehab
