Programme Director,
Members of the Executive Council and Free State Legislature, who are present here today,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee,
Acting Executive Mayor and Councillors,
Head of Department: Mr. Sandile Msibi,
Provincial Commissioner and SAPS Management,
CPF Members,
SANTACO/Provincial Taxi Council and SABOA,
Media houses,
All invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
Transport ensures the mobility of passengers and commodities;
Without transport, workers cannot get to their places of work;
Goods cannot be delivered to points of need;
Towns, rural areas and cities cannot be connected.
In other words, there cannot be productivity, trade and the modern economy as we know it; This positions transport at the centre of trade, productivity and economic growth.
Transport therefore is an important catalyst in the delivery of the objectives of the ANC Government to provide jobs for all, end poverty and reduce unemployment;
As a Department therefore, we are enjoined to reflect on the past 20 years of ANC Government Delivery, as well as going forward to expand and deepen on what the Government has done so far.
Thank you for joining us at this important occasion where we will also enlighten you on the calendar of events planned for the October Transport Month 2013 and beyond. The OTM Campaign was officially introduced during the 2005 Transport Lekgotla;
It is used to raise awareness on the important role of transport in the economy and to solicit participation from civil society and business in providing a safer, more affordable, efficient accessible and reliable transport system.
The OTM Campaign also showcases progress achieved in various transport programmes and projects and promotes short and long-term transport plans of National and Provincial departments.
As we are nearing the completion of our second decade of Freedom, this year’s campaign will be celebrated under the theme “Celebrating 20 years of delivering efficient, reliable and safe transport services”.
Indeed, during this year’s October Transport Month, the Free State Government through the Department of Police, Roads and Transport, seeks to highlight the advances it has made to improve the state of public and freight transport.
In revealing our programme for the month we will also show you some of the recent achievements of our Government, as led the by the African National Congress.
Since coming to power nearly 20 years ago, we can cite amongst many others, important milestone achievements, the following policy achievements, which were then translated into concrete programmes that became a reality, inter alia:
- The recognition and formalization of the taxi industry by the ANC Government, which accounts for 65% of all the commuting public using public transport;
- The empowerment model which has given both the taxi industry and employees of Bus Operators the opportunity to become shareholders;
- Transformation of subsidization of the bus industry;
- In 2011, the Monontsha Pass linking Lesotho and South Africa, was launched and is nearing completion;
- The building and completion of the Warden – Standerton Road (formerly a high accident route) linking the Provinces of the Free State and Mpumalanga, and thereby providing an important economic transit facility for transportation of goods.
In her speech at the opening of the October Transport Month Campaign on 1 October this year, the Honorable Minister of Transport, Me Dipuo Peters, reiterated that the National Development Plan (NDP) sees the Gauteng-Durban-Free State corridor as vital to the future of the national economy as it serves as a thoroughfare for about 46% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
According to the NDP, by 2030, the Durban-Gauteng-Free State logistics corridor should be a model for how to strengthen and optimize freight corridors.
As the corridor that handles most of the country's high-value freight, it is the first priority and also the most strategic corridor to achieve a shift of freight from road to rail.
Why are we creating this hub?
The aim of the logistics hub is to maximise the position of the Fee Sate being in the centre on the N3 corridor, between the port of Durban and Johannesburg’s City Deep. It is a freight intermodal hub which will facilitate the handling of in-bound and out-bound cargo for de-stuffing and redistribution to in-land provinces and Lesotho.
The re-direction of freight flows from the N3 and N1 to in-land corridors of the Free State, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape such as the N8, N5 and N6 will be a direct result of this Hub. The project is also attached to a Vehicle Distribution Centre which is part of the Tshiame Industrial Development, an industrial area 8 km from Harrismith on the N5.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of the project for industry include shorter travelling distances for cargo destined for provinces such as the Free Sate, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Lesotho.
The Free State and Harrismith in particular, also has lower set up costs for businesses which manufacture items for export as well as providing shorter travelling distances to the Durban harbour. Further advantages for business in utilising this terminal will include shorter lead times due to less congestion as well as lower operational costs than in larger cities.
The Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality which incorporates, Harrismith, has been identified as a Presidential Development node due to its high unemployment levels and lack of industrialisation.
The immediate benefit will therefore be the creation of direct and indirect employment opportunities as well as the establishment of the SMME sector which will serve as a support to major anchor industries already in the process of establishing facilities in Harrismith as well at Tshiame.
What of the state of the roads in general?
The roads in and around the Free State are in the process of being revitilised:
- The Warden-Standerton road has just been completed to the value of R252m;
- The R73 is in the pipeline to be up graded. As part of the plan for the Hub, the surrounding roads will be upgraded along with the rail infrastructure as part of the entire infrastructure package.
This clearly indicates the important role our Province has to play in South Africa’s transport issues.
We must be worthy of this great responsibility bestowed on us by making sure that:
- The roads in the heart of South Africa are in good condition and safe to travel on;
- That law and order is upheld on our roads and that people using public transport are ensured of safe travel.
An effective Transport System has a significant impact on both the economic and social fabric of our country. It influences the efficiency of business operations, labor mobility, the safety and security of all South Africans as well as international interest in our country as a place in which to invest.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The October Transport Month also gives the department a platform to share its programmes and projects in the pipeline in making the Free State Province a better place to live in.
In pursuit of these objectives, our programmes and interventions seek to meet and stimulate the attainment of national policy goals such as:
- Job creation and poverty eradication;
- Redress apartheid spatial development;
- Road Roads infrastructure development and improvement in the Province.
- Local economic development and regional integration;
- Safety of all users of the different modes of transport; and
- Skills development.
Programme for the OTM 2013
We will showcase the improvement we have made to the transport infrastructure in disadvantaged rural areas. On the 18th we will have the official opening of the Heilbron – Petrus Steyn road that has brought huge economic prospects to the area.
It also has not only created jobs for numerous local people, but also invested in their futures by training in various aspects of road building. Next on our itinerary is the official opening of the Harrismith Testing Station on 22 October.
This spacious facility with its breathtaking view of the splendor and beauty of the Eastern Free State landscape is a true example of our undertaking to improve transport facilities in the Province.
One of our border towns, Ficksburg, is next where we will conduct the Official Opening of the Setsoto Transport Facility – the new Taxi Rank / Intermodal Facility - on the 24th of this month.
This improved facility will bring huge relief for local commuters and citizens of Lesotho traveling to and from this very busy border post.
The official opening of the Warden – Vrede road is scheduled for the 1st of November in Vrede and it is expected that our Honorable Minister of Transport, Me Dipuo Peters, will attend this event as well as the one in Ficksburg.
Regarding Safety on our Roads
As always therefore, there will be renewed focus on law enforcement through greater visibility of our traffic officers on the roads and numerous roadblocks. The emphasis will be on compliance to road traffic rules and regulations, Road Safety education and to create awareness about crime and giving safety tips to road users.
These operations will be extended over the Festive Season and well into 2014.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Transport is the heartbeat of South Africa’s economic growth and social development. It is the most powerful tool with which we can use to change the lives of our people and our province and country’s economy.
The Department of Police, Roads and Transport, led by the ANC Government in the Free State Province is committed to give its utmost in delivering an efficient, reliable, safe and integrated public transport system;
And to develop and improve infrastructure, to create road safety initiatives as well as to developing of skills and job creation. It is my humble request to all of you and each and every one using our transport facilities and travel on our roads: Please support us in our quest:
Obey the rules of the road.
Show respect to your fellow road users, your passengers and the facilities offered.
Programme Director, allow me to present programme for the 2013 provincial October Transport Month Campaign for the Free State.
I thank you!
