Programme Director, Mr Monwabisi Mbana,
The MEC for Roads, Public Works and Transport, Ms Thandiswa Marawu,
Executive Mayor for KSD Municipality Cllr Nonkoliso Ngqongwa,
Traditional and Religious Leaders,
Regional Managers of Transport Agencies present here today,
Public Transport Industry,
Provincial Road Safety Officers,
Municipal Road Safety Officers,
Traffic Controllers,
Law enforcement,
Learners and Peer Educators,
Media Representatives,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
I am pleased to be here on the occasion of the official opening of the Mthatha Taxi Rank as part of the activities of the October Transport Month programme. The October Transport Month programme is a product of collaboration between the three spheres of government, State Owned Companies and agencies.
In 2005, October was declared a transport month to allow stakeholders, including the general public, to highlight the advances we are making to provide safe and reliable transport infrastructure and services across the country.
This year's activities started with the launch of the October Transport Month programme in Soweto on the 1st of October under the theme of providing safe and reliable transport system for all. The programme includes various activities cutting across aviation, maritime, rail and road transport.
As we celebrate achievements, we are also mindful of the backlog arising from years of the apartheid spatial development, which denied the majority access to safe and reliable transport.
Indeed, it will take time for government and the rest of society to fully address existing imbalances between communities. We however remain optimistic that with the foundation laid over the last eighteen years of democracy, we are on course to achieving our political and constitutional obligation to deliver decent transport services to all South Africans.
Programme Director,
A safe and reliable transport infrastructure is a key input in the country's effort to accelerate economic growth and social development in both urban and rural areas. Without safe infrastructure and services it will be difficult for goods and people to move from one place to another, with negative implications on the economy.
In his State of the Nation Address in February 2012, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma highlighted the strategic role of transport as one of the drivers of growth in other sectors of the economy such as tourism, agriculture and mining.
Domestic and international tourists depend on transport to move from one place to another, and their choice of destinations is largely influenced by the state of transport. Similarly, mining and agricultural goods have to be transported to local and international destinations through the road, rail, maritime and aviation modes of transport.
Significant amounts of resources have been allocated to improve existing transport systems, while at the same time, creating new infrastructure, especially in rural and poor urban areas. Government's interventions are also geared towards achieving other national policy goals such as job creation, poverty eradication, skills development, and local economic development.
The refurbishment of the Mthatha Taxi Rank, the airport and the bridge therefore forms part of many activities being implemented across the country.
During my first days in office, I joined President Zuma on a trip to inspect the state of various modes of public transport around the Gauteng metropolitan areas. As part of our activities, we also visited Taxi Ranks.
I must indicate that many taxi ranks are not in good condition. Beside congestions due to limited space, amongst other reasons, the environment as a whole is not hospitable; it is also a big health hazard.
Many South Africans experience these conditions on daily basis. This is contrary to the spirit and letter of the Bill of Rights which promotes human dignity for all.
I therefore wish to commend the municipality, the provincial government and all those who contributed in identifying this taxi rank as one of the areas that require our attention in the endeavour to promote a safe and reliable transport system.
Promoting safe and reliable transport is multifaceted, it includes many interventions, amongst them, the rehabilitation of taxi ranks, as we are witnessing today. There are other complimentary interventions that need to be addressed to create a modern transport infrastructure that is responsive to the needs of all citizens.
Safety of passengers and goods on our roads remains one the challenges facing the country. Within a few days in office I witnessed no less than three accidents that killed more than ten people each.
All these accidents involved public transportation, raising questions about the state of our public transport. Government is concerned about the loss of life no matter who is involved.
There are many reasons for the road carnage and these include the state of some of our roads, poor law enforcement, driver neglect and lack of courtesy.
Government has a role to play by rehabilitating the existing infrastructure while at the same time improving law enforcement. A number of activities are being undertaken to achieve this:
- Road safety should be our focus throughout the year and should not be limited to the festive and Easter seasons;
- Through the S'hamba Sonke programme, different spheres of government are working together to rehabilitate existing road infrastructure and services;
- The rehabilitation of the rail infrastructure and the acquisition of new rolling stock (trains) will also reduce congestions on our roads; and
- Public transport will undergo a massive restructuring with the review of the bus subsidy scheme to include mini-bus taxis.
But, government alone cannot address all the challenges facing the country. The bus and the taxi industry, as well as the general public, should also contribute. In particular, the public transport industry must ensure that their vehicles are always in good condition, drivers are well trained, and they rest before they travel.
The public, as well, should contribute by reporting corruption and negligence as and when they happen. All of us must join hands to fight the scourge of corruption which robs ordinary law abiding citizens of their right to decent and quality services.
Honourable MECs,
Let me conclude by thanking those who will receive certificates of their learner driver licenses. By getting their certificates in a legal way, they have become ambassadors of road safety in the province and the country as a whole.
Once more, I wish to thank the local and provincial spheres of government as well as other stakeholders and the general public for your continued partnership.
Working together, we can do more.
I thank you!
