Honourable Speaker
Honourable Premier
Honourable MECs and Members of this House
Political Leaders
Traditional Leaders
Transport Sector Stakeholders
Government officials
Communities of the Cacadu District
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is, indeed, a great honour for me to present the annual reports of the Eastern Cape Department of Transport and Mayibuye Transport Corporation for the 2011/12 financial year, when the nation celebrates the October Transport Month Campaign with a purpose to:
- promote the short-term and long term transport plans of the Department of Transport, Public Entities and Municipalities;
- highlight successes of all stakeholders in creating safe transport modes and contributions towards socio-economic development, innovation etc.;
- mobilise public and private sector participation in transport projects aimed at developing the country’s economy and for sustainable job creation.
Honourable Speaker, the 2011/12 financial year was characterised by the intensification of efforts to deliver “quality transport systems for a better life for all” and programmatic response to the undertakings enshrined in the:
- African National Congress (ANC) Manifesto of 2009
- New Growth Path
- Government’s 12 Outcomes
- Provincial Strategic Framework.
The strategic focus of the department for the period under review was anchored around the following strategic performance areas:
- Promotion of good governance and transportation excellence
- Maximisation of mobility and accessibility through public transport
- Leading integrated traffic management
- Creation of economic empowerment opportunities in the transportation sector and alleviation of poverty.
As an Executing Authority of this department, I can say without fear of contradiction that this department is turning the corner! This can be attributed to the calibre of leadership that we have assembled and the commitment of all the departmental officials to ensure that we:
- deliver on our mandate
- sustain our good service delivery record and be a shining example to other government departments.
- promote excellent performance
- fulfill our obligation of restoring the confidence of our people in their government and continue to work together with our people to build a province and a country that we can all look at with hope, pride and encouragement.
This has resulted in us receiving another unqualified audit report for the 2011/12 financial year for the third consecutive year since the 2009/10 financial year.
The department is now determined to reduce the matters of emphasis that have been highlighted by the Auditor-General, including non-financial performance information.
Moreover, in its first audit since its establishment towards the end of the period under review, our newly-established Provincial Government Fleet Management Trading Entity also obtained an unqualified audit report. The entity followed a complex reporting compared to departments that of reporting on accrual basis of accounting and was audited as such. Since its establishment the trading entity has successfully purchased its fleet and accounted for its operations.
In an effort to improve the overall administration of the department, we have approved nine policies, which are mainly related to Human Resource Management.
The finalisation of the organogram was put on hold due to expected strategic shift and the role of the New Provincial Department of Transport and re-alignment of its structure.
As part of our contribution to the transformation of the transport sector, we have awarded 29 bursaries to deserving youth of the Eastern Cape in this academic year. These bursaries were awarded on the following fields of study: Aeronautical Engineering (2), Civil Engineering (15), Mechanical Engineering (10) and Maritime Engineering (2). The value of the awarded bursaries totalled R65 000 per learner.
Our partnership with Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) has resulted in the selection of four Eastern Cape youth to be trained as Air Traffic Services Assistants following a recruitment of 110 young people from all districts in the last quarter of the period under review.
The following candidates started with ATNS last month and they are:
- Vitshima Nwabisa – Mthatha
- Akhona Ngambu – East London
- Siyabulela Mateta – East London
- Sikho Qangule – Mthatha
During the year under review, we have been able to encourage Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and we saw a significant increase in the value of contracts awarded to BEE companies from R25 million in the 2010/11 financial year to R80 million.
During the period under review, the department continued to provide public transport to the people of the province in line with our mandate. To that end, Algoa Bus Company transported more than 15 million passengers, while Africa’s Best 350 Ltd transported more than five million passengers (mainly rural) and Mayibuye Transport Corporation transported close to two million passengers (mainly rural).
Honourable Speaker, public transport funding has been a challenge since 1994 and all my predecessors, including myself, have made efforts to bring this matter to the attention of national government.
The only green light was received at the last Transport MinMEC, which was held last month, that resolved to address this challenge comprehensively, including the funding for the taxi industry operations and bus operations for the former TBVC states.
A technical process is underway to look at the finer details of the current operations and how government can spread funding to cover the previously disadvantaged areas.
This process will be complemented by a political process, where Transport MECs led by the Minister will make certain political considerations in the allocation of resources in order to decisively deal with the imbalances of the past.
In order to improve the administration and regulation of public transport, the Department established a Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) in terms of the National Land Transport Act No 5 of 2009, Section 23 (1) and their role is to:
- monitor and oversee public transport in the province
- receive and decide on applications relating to operating licences.
It is gratifying to report that PRE has been able to deal with the backlog of more than 600 applications throughout the province.
In an effort to contribute to rural development through improving access to public transport, we have successfully re-introduced the Kei Rail Daily Passenger Services between Mondays and Fridays.
Furthermore, we have successfully got the Mthatha Airport Upgrade project back on track and it is expected to be completed before the end of the current financial year.
We appreciate the support from national government through the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality Presidential Intervention Initiative, which has enabled the allocation of resources by national government in further developing the airport infrastructure.
In an effort to decisively deal with the apartheid public transport provision arrangement in the Eastern Cape, the department initiated a process of developing a Provincial Integrated Public Transport Master Plan (PIPTMP).
We appreciate the contribution of various stakeholders during the consultation process, which will culminate to a Provincial Public Transport Summit to be held in Port Elizabeth on 25 and 26 October 2012, where we expect relevant stakeholders to make inputs to the Master Plan.
Despite all the doubts and concerns, the Scholar Transport Programme was successfully migrated from the Department of Education to the Department of Transport. The total number of scholars transported during the year under review was 53 832 compared to the target of 42 000.
In addition to the dedicated Scholar Transport Programme, we have learners who are transported to school as follows:
- 24 000 make use of Algoa Bus Company
- 7000 use AB350
- 2000 use Mayibuye Transport Corporation
We have observed a significant improvement in dealing with the number of unlicensed vehicles in the Province. In the last quarter of the period under review 27 483 were licensed and this reflects efforts by motorists to comply with Traffic Regulations.
We appreciate the response of various stakeholders to our call for the establishment of Community Road Safety Councils in various districts.
Through the massive involvement of our stakeholders, we have been able to ensure that the people of the Eastern Cape play an active role in the “Decade of Action for Road Safety Campaign 2011-2020”.
As the department, we have also made our own contribution to the development and improvement of lives of the people, especially the rural poor, through our Community-Based Transportation Programme in line with the three priorities drawn from the African National Congress’ Manifesto; namely:
- Rural development
- Speeding up growth and transforming the economy to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods and
- Building cohesive, caring and sustainable communities.
A number of training programmes have been implemented to capacitate all the beneficiaries of the programme including the Road Rangers and Airport Maintenance Labourers.
We have engaged various municipalities in order to position and re-establish our Community-Based Transportation Programme and to revive our Transport Forums.
Honourable Speaker, it is evident, that, indeed, working together we can do more!
I present the annual reports of the Eastern Cape Department of Transport and Mayibuye Transport Corporation.
I thank you.
