Speech by the Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, at the National Rail Policy Green Paper Breakfast
Programme Director;
Deputy Minister of Transport: Honourable Sindisiwe Chikunga; All MEC of Transport present;
Mayor of Johannesburg: Mr. Parks Tau
Director-General of the Department of Transport: Mr. Pule Selepe; CEOs of State-Owned Entities and Agencies;
Heads of Departments of Transport; Industry players in the rail sector; Academia and civil society;
Officials from all spheres of government; Members of the media;
Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning,
It gives me pleasure today to be addressing this gathering which touches on Human Rights, particularly clause 7 (1) and (2) as contained in Chapter two (2) of the South African Constitution, (Act 108,1996).
In June 1955, leaders of movements that strove to end apartheid rule in South Africa, led by the ANC and its Alliance partners, met in Kliptown – Soweto, at a the meeting – called the Congress of the People, which we are celebration the 60th Anniversary this year since this historic gathering.
The gathering agreed to adopt a list of rights – the Freedom Charter – which contained a list of demands for rights that the majority of South Africans did not enjoy as a result of the apartheid regime.
Some of the ideas in the Freedom Charter are now embedded in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996).
The following declarations were made for the world to know:
- The people shall govern;
- All national groups shall have equal rights;
- The people shall share in the country’s wealth;
- The land shall be shared among those who work it;
- All shall be equal before the law;
- All shall enjoy equal human rights;
- There shall be work and security;
- The doors of learning and culture shall be opened;
- There shall be houses, security and comfort; and
- There shall be peace and friendship.
From the above declarations, it is clear that the Freedom Charter of 1955 already envisaged a new era of participatory democracy in which the people shall govern, through public consultation and participation, which is the cornerstone of developmental government.
It could therefore be declared that the origin of developmental government principles is the Freedom Charter. However, these principles could not take effect until they were promulgated into law through the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996).
As such, Human rights fall into two broad classes of the first and second generation. Civil and political rights, those traditionally included in constitutions around the world, tend to be considered first-generation rights.
These rights, which were given expression by the Enlightenment thinkers, were the first to be recognised by law. They begin with the basic rights to life, dignity, equality and privacy. But they also include the fundamental freedoms associated with democracy: freedom of expression, association, assembly, opinion, belief and religion, and movement.
Clause 7 (1) and (2) Freedom of expression states that:
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes-
a. freedom of the press and other media;
b. freedom to receive or impart information or ideas;
c. freedom of artistic creativity; and
d. academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.
2. The right in subsection (1) does not extend to-
a. propaganda for war;
b. incitement of imminent violence; or
c. advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, and that constitutes incitement to cause harm.
Today, as we are gathered here, we are extending to all South Africans, irrespective of their race, gender or colour, an opportunity to make an input into what will transform the landscape of the South African Rail industry into the one as envisaged by the founding fathers of our democracy, who used railways as a means of transport and equally as an economic enabler.
The apartheid, separatist regime, instead used this important means of transport to further segregate the people of our country along racial lines.
As the Preamble of our Constitution states: "We, the people of South Africa, recognise the injustices of our past; honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity”.
Furthermore, the Constitution enjoins us to consult the public and seek their wisdom and counsel on issues at hand. As we might know, a green paper is an official government document that tend to be statements not of policy already determined, but of propositions put before the whole nation for discussion. They are produced early in the policy-making process, while ministerial proposals are still being formulated. They are a precursor for the white paper.
All South Africans are therefore called upon to make a meaningful contribution in this process of the National Rail Policy.
As former President Thabo Mbeki once said: "Together, we decided that in the search for a solution to our problems, nobody should be demonised or excluded. We agreed that everybody should become part of the solution, whatever they might have done or represented in the past. This related both to negotiating the future of our country and working to build the new South Africa we all had negotiated."
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Historically speaking, the railway line and its railway stations have played a pivotal role in the day-to-day lives of South African communities, especially in rural areas.
Apart from the telegraph line, the railway was often the vital link to the outside world. Before the Second World War few people, if any, had motor cars or access to any such transport other than the iron horse and carriages. The railway station was often the hub of public and business life: a social rendezvous for arriving and departing passengers, and a point of collection and delivery for townsfolk and businessmen. At this point the mail and newspapers arrived regularly, as well as milk and fresh produce, and from here farmers would dispatch their harvests to the markets. The station master ranked among the pillars of society in the town or village, along with the headmaster, the doctor, the bank manager and the clergyman. He prided himself on the condition and the appearance of his station and competed enthusiastically with other station masters to see whose station looked the best.
However, railways in South Africa operated almost more than a century without overarching Policy framework that guided its development.
In 2014, the ANC Elections Manifesto promised to accelerate the roll-out of massive economic and social infrastructure programmeme especially in energy, public transport, ICT and water supply to unlock economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life of our people.
In addressing the launch of the National Development Plan, President Jacob Zuma said:
“The Constitution says the State must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of the people’s socio- economic rights if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents”.
The President was referring to National Development Plan (NDP), which defines a desired destination and identifies the role different sectors of society need to play in reaching that goal.
The Plan aims to ensure that all South Africans attain a decent standard of living through the elimination of poverty and reduction of inequality. The core elements of a decent standard of living identified in the Plan are:
- Housing, water, electricity and sanitation
- Safe and reliable public transport
- Quality education and skills development
- Safety and security
- Quality health care
- Social protection
- Employment
- Recreation and leisure
- Clean environment
- Adequate nutrition
For almost more than a century, railways in South Africa operated without an overarching Policy framework that guided its development. The Department of Transport, in fulfilling the dictates of the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 of ensuring policy certainty and frameworks in critical sectors, started a process of developing the National Rail Policy for South Africa.
On the 12th of August, Cabinet under the leadership of President Zuma approved the released the Green Paper on National Rail Policy for South Africa for public consultation.
The people of South Africa and the railway sector in particular have long been awaiting this Green Paper in order to create a much needed policy dialogue that will set the rail trajectory for development.
It is imperative to take note that if we don't take these critical decisions in order to preserve the role railways must play in the integrated transport system of the country, history will judge us harshly. We cannot wait till the last coach, wagon or locomotive is off the tracks to make decisions.
The Green Paper will create a foundation and framework to stimulate discussion for the development and finalisation of the White Paper on National Rail Policy.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The De Villiers Report (1986) is one of the historic record that have contributed to the current status of rail infrastructure in South Africa. The then National Party government cut back the budget on new rail investment and the consequences thereof are evident today. Today more than 50% of South Africa's rolling stock and rail network is more than 50 years old. This impact negatively on service delivery especially the movement of freight and commuters ; and this adversely affects the growth of our economy because workers’ productivity is hampered by late arrivals or non-appearance at workplaces due to technical or mechanical challenges to the services Students miss exams and new job applicants miss interviews.
The freight industry is equally affected by the challenges of the inadequate services which does not match the economic growth trajectory resulting in over reliance on trucks which impacts on road users and pressure on the drivers of especially long distance freight haulers.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The consequential obsolete rail infrastructure and rolling stock, inefficient operations, and under-utilisation of the network has resulted in the significant loss of market share to road, with rail only carrying 11% of the market share while road carries 89%.
There are large volumes of rail friendly goods transported on the road, which has an adverse effect on the road infrastructure. We have seen the increased number of trucks on South African roads, which not only damage our roads but also contribute to the increased road accidents.
This Policy position advocates for the facilitation of a movement of cargo from road back to rail in the medium to long-term period.
As a result of historic challenges, railways in the country have increasingly lagged far behind in comparison to other railways that have participated in the railway renaissance.
Consequently, they are no longer able to compete effectively with other transport modes in the pursuit of delivering their rightful share of the national transport task and are further unable to support the country’s export into the global market.
Noting the consequences of a lack of a National Rail Policy, the Department embarked on a process of developing the policy and has produced a Green Paper on National Rail Policy.
I am pleased to announce that the Green Paper is now available for public engagements. It has been a long journey to get to this point, but I am glad that we are finally here. It has been a mammoth task to produce this Green Paper, which seeks to address the needs of most of the stakeholder for rail transport.
The Green Paper proposes evidence-based interventions designed to revitalise South African railways. It also proposes the revitalisation of rail in South Africa through the implementation of strategically focused investment-led policy interventions.
These interventions will reposition both passenger and freight rail for inherent competitiveness by exploiting rail’s genetic technologies to increase axle load, speed, and train length.
This, by no means, implies that operational efficiency is not required in our railways. The Green Paper recognises that operational efficiency of our current railways, which the current infrastructure can only take to a certain point, and that is nowhere near where our railways need to be in terms of performance.
The policy is also aligned to the work of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC).
In this instance, I am aware of the riveting debate concerning the rail gauge matter. With only 9% of the world’s railways currently remaining on Cape Gauge and 60% on standard gauge.
Standard gauge is clearly the superior gauge and is therefore proposed as an appropriate gauge for the country in meeting the future capacity demands.
This is in line with the African Union resolution that all future railways must be on standard gauge.
A number African Countries including Ethiopia and Kenya have already embarked on standard gauge developments in implementing the African Union resolution.
These strategically focused interventions will address the overall government strategic objectives of improving and investing in transport infrastructure to create an efficient transport system that is able to compete both locally and internationally, thereby reducing transportation costs.
Programme Director
These interventions will also ensure improved rural access, increased mobility, increased job creation within the rail sector through infrastructure construction and will contribute to economic development.
They will also encourage the use of appropriate technologies to increase productivity and acquisition of much needed skills in the South African economy.
Government recognises the enormity of the investment required in achieving the set objectives and that existing sources will be inadequate to fund all the requirements.
It will therefore be prudent and necessary to attract additional sources of funding.
The Green Paper recommends that the National Rail Policy provides for private sector participation or investment in projects where government cannot afford to invest and/or where value for money can be demonstrated for public and private sector risk premium.
This policy is also aligned to the nine-point plan as unveiled by President Zuma in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) with regard to the emphasis on encouraging private sector investment.
Key to the success of the rail revitalisation will be the centralized coordination of rail policy and strategic planning at national government level.
Key corridors must be identified with an efficient rail network to foster developments in the rail sector. All new rail developments within the state owned enterprises or any other player must be aligned to the planning frameworks.
Green Paper will stimulate discussions on rail issues and facilitate the development of appropriate and concrete policy statements in the White Paper on National Rail Policy.
The Department will conduct workshops in all provinces to ensure the views and concerns of all South Africans are addressed in this policy making process.
Barbara Masekela, the South African Ambassador to the US in 2003-2007 once said:
"We have confronted and successfully dealt with some of the toughest, most intractable challenges of our time - challenges that have left other societies in ashes. We are problem solvers. We are pragmatists. We work by consensus. And we prefer long-term solutions to quick, expedient fixes. But we are still revolutionaries: we want to hand succeeding generations a truly better world."
I, therefore, encourage all stakeholders, including the public (ordinary men and women) as well the youth to participate and engage the Department during public stakeholder consultation process that will be taking place in the next four (4) months.
I thank you.
