Presented By Honourable MPL Weziwe Tikana, MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Eastern Cape Legislature, Bhisho
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker,
Honourable Premier,
Leadership of the ANC,
Alliance Structures and other political parties,
Honourable MECs,
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Transport Sector Stakeholders,
Traditional Leaders,
Distinguished Guests,
Departmental Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Honourable Speaker, I rise to present the Budget Policy Speech for the Department of Transport: Vote 10 under the theme “Moving the Eastern Cape Forward”.
The 1,6 billion budget allocated for providing an efficient, safe and affordable transport systems is welcomed but it is also inadequate to address the demand for safe public transport services in the Province of the Eastern Cape.
On the occasion of the 103 years anniversary of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) in Cape Town three months ago, President Jacob Zuma reminded all of us that:
“Our people entrusted us, overwhelmingly, to give effect to the will of the electorate and we must do so according to the mandate upon which we were elected. Let us, therefore, give meaning to ‘Service to the People’ and serve them with humility and dignity.”
As the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, we are determined to take a tune from this profound statement in an effort to deliver on our mandate, which is to provide our people with “an efficient, safe, sustainable, affordable and accessible transport system.”
Our commitment is guided by the government and the ruling party policy priorities which include, but not limited to, the following:
- The Freedom Charter
- The National and Provincial Development Plans
- The Provincial Medium Term Strategic Framework
The Freedom Charter encourages us as the transport sector to ensure that South Africa belongs to all who live in it through the provision of quality transportation services, the People Shall Govern through stakeholder engagement and mass mobilisation, the People Shall Share in the Country’s Wealth through transformation measures, the Doors of Learning and Culture Shall be Opened through the provision of an efficient scholar transport service.
