Programme director
Mayor Salman and councillors of Elundini municipality
Executive Mayor of Ukhahlamba district municipality Councillor Marhawu
Traditional leaders
Government officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is indeed gratifying for me to come again to this district, especially here in Mount Fletcher, exactly a year after I came here to open a road and today I am back to launch more roads projects that will change our people’s lives forever. This service delivery that we are witnessing today demonstrates our commitment to the promises that we have made to our rural communities through the ANC’s manifesto that, amongst others, we would focus on the development of rural areas.
Following the overwhelming majority of votes during the general election, the new government has come up with mechanisms and programmes that will help us to enhance service delivery in order to improve accessibility and mobility of our rural people. Today we are witnessing a testimony of that important commitment, as we are here to celebrate the 2009 October Transport Month campaign in style by launching the Ukhahlamba District Alternative Surfacing projects.
This occasion marks the successful integration of our Inaccessible and Impassable Roads programme into the Alternative Surfacing Technologies programme in order to enhance our 80/20 strategy and our R3 billion roads infrastructure turn-around plan, which seek to ensure that after 10 years we have 80 percent of our roads tarred and 20 percent gravel.
The Ukhahlamba District alternative surfacing projects for this financial year cost the department R14 million and they include:
* R56-Zingcuka (T84), where we are today and this road will be finished next month at a cost of R5 million. A total of 36 job opportunities have been created in this project.
* R56-Tsitsana (T83), which will be completed in March 2010 at a cost of R6 million and is expected to create 40 job opportunities.
* Hershell–Covell, which will commence next month and be completed in March 2010 at a cost of R3 million and create 36 job opportunities.
We are still looking at investing close to R25 million in this district in the 2010/11 financial year and we have identified certain roads, which include:
* DR0818 (Luzi roads)
* DR 0723 (Maclear roads)
* Makhatemi-Macacuba
* Hopedale-Mbosweni
* Ntlangano-Landisnek
* Walaza-Qhimirha
* Rhodes-Barkley East
This financial year, we have allocated R150 million for alternative surfacing throughout the province using our in-house construction teams with a particular focus on rural roads with a load of less than 500 vehicles per day (Such Roads are classified as low volume roads).
In this amount, R50 million goes to the recapitalisation of our yellow fleet. We plan to surface 60 kilometres of roads this financial year which means we are spending R1,87 million per kilometre. Already, 30 percent of the allocated budget has been spent and seven kilometres of roads have been surfaced. A further 33 kilometres has been worked to base level and is in the process of being surfaced before the Christmas Day on 25 December 2009. Next year, we intend to invest R200 million for Alternative Surfacing projects using in-house construction teams. This means that within no time, our people will reap the benefits of voting for the ANC to lead government in this country, especially in this province.
Shova Kalula Bicycle project maintenance shops
The people of Ukhahlamba district would recall that when we introduced the Shova Kalula Bicycle project in this province in 2003, we started here. Last October, I left more bicycles for rural learners who travelled long distances to reach schools. Despite the indelible progress that we have made as government in the distribution of bicycles for these learners, we have been confronted by a challenge of maintenance.
As a result, we have resolved to purchase containers that will serve as spares shops for rural learners to fix their bicycles. Each container has R50 000 worth of spare parts and jobs will be created as community members will be trained to run these spares shops. Today we are unveiling one of the 12 spares shops that we have purchased, which are being distributed throughout the province.
In conclusion
I would like to call upon members of the community, local leaders, including traditional leaders, to help us in protecting these assets. We further call upon the continuation of the existing partnership between government and the people as we believe that working together we can do more to effectively deal with poverty and underdevelopment, which continue to haunt our young democracy.
I thank you.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Tell: 043 604 7584
E-mail: nossy.mzini@dot.ecprov.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
15 October 2009
Source: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.ectransport.gov.za/)
