Protocol
Here in the North West today, we celebrate the successful implementation of a R30 million community road project that at conception was not part of S'hamba Sonke, but which has become a shining example of the philosophy, approach and key principles of the S'hamba Sonke road maintenance programme.
It will be recalled that, when I was appointed Minister of Transport by President Zuma, the President said that KwaZulu-Natal's Zibambele and Vukuzakhe programmes must be extended to the rest of the country.
S'hamba Sonke is the answer to the use of infrastructure to create social assets, but also to create jobs through dedicated funding for road maintenance. S'hamba Sonke is the result of our plea to President Jacob Zuma for dedicated funding for road maintenance.
It started for the first time this financial year (1 April 2011) with an amount of R6.4 billion, R7.5 billion next financial year and R8.2 billion by 2014, totalling over R22 billion by 2014. This amount is a conditional grant dedicated to road maintenance.
The funds are allocated as follows for 2011/12:
KwaZulu-Natal - R1.2 billion;
Eastern Cape - R1 billion;
Mpumalanga - R1 billion;
Limpopo - R934 million;
Gauteng - R566 million;
Free State - R447 million;
Western Cape - R411 million;
Northern Cape - R308 million; and
North West - R501 million.
Monitoring delivery
The delivery of S'hamba Sonke is being monitored through a Project Management Unit at national level. Provinces must provide monthly reports on the implementation of S'hamba Sonke.
The Department of Transport, in turn, has to report on a quarterly basis to National Treasury on the performance of this grant. We have committed to creating 70 000 jobs by 2012 through S'hamba Sonke. S'hamba Sonke is expected to create 400 000 jobs by 2014.
Many of these jobs will come from infrastructure projects, and through deliberate use of labour-intensive methods to construct roads, bridges and walkways, among others.
Infrastructure defines development
Ladies and gentlemen, today's gathering is about a better life for all. The call for a better life has meaning when it is a better life for all. A better life, wherever you are. A better life for all requires freedom of movement for all. Freedom of movement for all requires roads for all.
The development of infrastructure must reach each and every person, whether you are in the city or in the rural areas. But, it is the people who must continue to drive development. The delivery of these projects must be at the behest of the people, and its key deliverables monitored by you, the people.
To be at the centre of this development, we must strengthen community-based structures, particularly those that deal with transport matters.
As part of S'hamba Sonke, we are setting up (Rural) Road Transport Forums. Where they do not exist, they must be established with utmost urgency. The Road Transport Forums must continue collaboration with other transport-related forums, such as Community Road Safety Councils, to organise communities towards a single objective.
As indicated, job-creation is an integral part of S'hamba Sonke. However, a second element is the creation of small business enterprises.
Furthermore, S'hamba Sonke consists of the following elements:
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Providing experiential work opportunities for Technikon students to meet their graduation requirements.
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A national Pothole Repair Programme, involving road-users, the private sector and a national pothole hotline.
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The establishment of provincial road-asset registers, which record the condition of roads, traffic counts and life-cycle maintenance requirements.
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Asset management systems for authorities to "know your network". Engineers and Superintendents will drive through stretches of road to determine the daily condition of our road network.
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Reducing the percentage of roads in poor to very poor condition from the current 30% to 10%.
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Reducing vehicle operating costs and thus overall transportation costs.
While this programme is being rolled out nationally, it is owned and driven at provincial level by the provincial governments under the coordination of the Premier, MEC and Heads of Departments.
When we launched S'hamba Sonke in April this year, we said when we started the programme in KwaZulu-Natal, we borrowed ideas from Kenya. We then adapted them into a very successful programme in KwaZulu-Natal.
In this context, we expressed the hope that provinces would also find more and more creative ways of improving the implementation of what is now S'hamba Sonke in order to improve the lives of more people of our country.
North West S'hamba Sonke
I referred earlier to the extent of the national road network. I am told that the paved road network in the North West totals 6,126km and the unpaved road network consists of 14,854km. Among its largest needs, the province has identified the following: road safety and maintenance; contractor development and job-creation.
Through S'hamba Sonke, the North West government aims at the economic & social upliftment of rural communities through the improvement of critical arterial routes. We aim here to create job opportunities, through the upgrading and maintenance of rural roads through local business and communities.
As indicated above, the North West has been allocated R501m for this financial year 2011/12, and is rolling this out via a number of projects which will create jobs and provide much needed infrastructure.
Madidi Community Project
As government, all our activities must contribute to the betterment of South Africa's people wherever they are.
Through our agency South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), we funded this R30 million community development project at Madidi village in the North West in order to provide access, jobs and stimulate the local economy.
Transport, we believe, is the engine for growth, development and job creation in our country. This project included the upgrading of the local road infrastructure of about 7 km, and the refurbishment of the local community hall.
The project began in February 2009, as a partnership between SANRAL and the North West Province's Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and the local council under the leadership of Councillor Susan Nthangeni. The Madidi project is aimed at improving access roads for the community to public services such as clinics, police stations and schools.
Ladies and gentlemen, for years these roads had not been maintained, and potholes had developed. This made them not only dangerous to drive on, but often cut access for the residents of Madidi to the neighbouring towns such as Mabopane, Soshanguve as well as Pretoria.
Here unfolds the story that we tell nationally, that our road infrastructure is on the verge of irretrievable disrepair. It is the story we tell as we implement S'hamba Sonke that our roads require maintenance and refurbishment. More importantly, this R30m Madidi project is a clear example of what we can do together to address this critical infrastructure backlog one village at a time.
Improving lives
The population of Madidi is estimated to be above 5,000 and an estimated 80% of the dwellers are unemployed. Many of the households survive on government social grants. The crime levels were high.
This project has brought relief to the residents of Madidi:
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During the 24-month period of construction 556 job opportunities were created.
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At least 27 learners were trained and achieved NQF level four certificates.
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Today school children are able to access their schools during rainy days, because a bridge was constructed on the road crossing a stream in the area.
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As a result of this project, the Madidi Local Council reports that policing in the area has improved drastically as a result of easy access roads to the community. Crime had been reduced by approximately 40%! This is a direct result of the improvements done by the Department of Transport's agency SANRAL, simply by addressing the basic needs of the community.
At least 55% of Madidi residents benefited directly from the project, and they will continue to benefit from the indirect economic benefits created by the new road infrastructure in the area. Since the completion of this project, the bus services ferrying people from the community to their neighbouring towns have been improved.
The taxi operators in the area have also brought in new taxis, as it means less maintenance due to driving on improved roads. A number of car washes alongside the newly improved roads are visible, and this is a means of income for some families. Local shops are also benefitting as deliveries are now getting to their shops on time.
Skills development legacy
In addition, a project of this nature must leave demonstrable, usable and relevant skills on the ground. Our agency SANRAL and its partners funded the Supervision of Construction Processes Programme, an NQF Level four certificate, which was attended and completed by 27 men and women from Madidi Village.
This qualification is for persons supervising the use of construction resources and construction work processes. This involves work roles as supervisors, foremen and general foremen. The qualification is composed of fundamental, core and elective learning components.
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Although the qualification's minimum credits are 176, the Madidi Programme consisted of 197 credits, specialising in road-building.
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Of the 27 learners who completed the programme, 11 of them have successfully registered their Close Corporations and now are listed in the Construction and Industry Development Board as fully fledged contractors.
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Leading to this was the learners' completion of an additional unit standard composed of twenty credits, focusing on tendering for construction contracts.
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And the cherry on top is that, one learner has already tendered for construction work in the Madibeng Municipality, and is awaiting the results. In other words, he has now gained sufficient experience to be able to stand on his own.
This project would not have been possible without the community and the Madibeng Local Municipality. We also express our appreciation of the role played by the Construction Education Training Authority (CETA), who conducted on-site and off-site assessments and moderation and issuing of certificates.
We also thank the learner contractors and the workers who were at the core of the success of this project. Congratulations to the province of the North West and SANRAL for your critical role in implementing this project successfully.
Working Together We Can Do More!
S'hamba Sonke!
Re Sepela Ka Moka!
Re Tsamaya Bohle!
Re Tsamaya Rotlhe!
Ons Loop Saam!
Vamos Juntos!
