Madam Speaker Honourable Members
The ANC welcomes the fact that “modernisation of public transport infrastructure” has been identified as one of the ten-pillar programmes of radical transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation of Gauteng under this new administration led by Premier Makhura.
Undoubtedly this, together with “decisive spatial transformation” and the “modernisation of human settlements and urban development”, will change the spatial and physical landscape in our province. Also, it will forever alter the land use patterns in a manner that will help to create truly post-apartheid communities.
This is the boldness of the Premier’s plan to move more swiftly to a national democratic social order and to eradicate the social, economic and spatial legacy of apartheid and colonialism. The Premier called for men and women with the “capacity to think ahead”; the “capability to inspire actions that can turn dreams into a reality”, and to breathe new life into the vision of the Freedom Charter.
It is instructive to note that the Freedom Charter, adopted on the 26 June 1955 in Kliptown states: There shall be houses, security and comfort! Under this banner, it proclaims that “all people shall have the right to live where they choose, be decently housed, and to bring up their families in comfort and security…slums shall be demolished, and new suburbs built where all have transport, roads, lighting, playing fields, creches and social centres”. In all its brevity and simplicity, the Freedom Charter captured the dream of new communities and new cities.
To give life to this vision in our current context, the Premier has signalled the way forward for all of us. He stated:
We shall take radical steps to transform the spatial configuration and landscape of Gauteng province through better and co-ordinated land use management and spatial development. We shall work with municipalities and state-owned enterprises to ensure that a new built environment and inclusive spatial landscape emerges across the Gauteng city-region. This will be done through public transport infrastructure development and the creation of new integrated and sustainable human settlements and post-apartheid cities that are more connected, livable, smart and green.
This approach is entirely consistent with the 25 Year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25) and is fully supported by the Department of Roads and Transport. The ITMP25 is emphatic that we should shift spatial planning away from apartheid land use patterns by building housing developments within the urban edge. Greater housing densification in urban areas and the accommodation of residents on well-located land parcels in close proximity to public transport facilities and other social amenities can change the face of our province. This new spatial paradigm - spurred on by transit-oriented development - would contribute greatly to break the cycle of poverty and the social exclusion of large numbers of our people. It certainly would provide the basis social cohesion and inclusion into the mainstream economy.
With this in mind, the ANC government has developed a set of interventions aimed at transforming public transport into an integrated, reliable, accessible, safe and affordable system. In the next few years, the full development of an integrated bus rapid transit system across the three metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng will become evident. The progress made in respect of Rea Vaya and A re Yeng in Johannesburg and Tshwane respectively is already changing our people’s perceptions of public transport. Work on a similar system in Ekurhuleni has already begun and we are carefully looking into the possibility of extending the system to the West Rand.
The successful completion and full operation of Gautrain bears testimony to the capacity of the ANC government to deliver on large-scale public transport infrastructure projects. Today, the Gautrain has an average daily ridership of 55 000 passengers and 21 000 passengers on its busses. A few days ago, it won the Global AirRail Alliance Award for customer service excellence.
The Global AirRail Alliance Award is an international award dedicated to the air-rail industry, recognising the best practice in intermodal travel around the world. For this award the Gautrain airport service was shortlisted from a long
list of big rail services around the world. The finalists in the customer service category included Birmingham Airport (UK), Flytoget (Oslo, Norway) and Canada Line (Vancouver, Canada), with Gautrain’s airport service being the overall winner.
The Gauteng Management Agency is currently examining the feasibility of expanding the rapid rail link system to other parts of the province and we will report on this matter to this House in due course.
We take comfort from the fact that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has prioritised the revitalisation of Metrorail in Gauteng. The acquisition of new rolling stock; the renovation of train stations and the development of a new signaling system will transform the day-to-day travel experiences of our people, particularly the working class.
Cumulatively, these interventions support the re-industrialisation of the provincial economy through strategic infrastructure development. The ANC shares the hope expressed by the Premier that the rollout of public transport infrastructure across the province will revitalise and modernise old, transport industries through the local manufacturing or assembling of busses, trains and locomotives.
What is equally important is that working together with Transnet, the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) and the other spheres of government, the ANC will implement the provincial freight strategy with greater vigour and renewed energy. Existing freight and logistics hubs such as City Deep are being upgraded. In addition, a number of new logistics hubs are due to be established over the next decade, particularly to stimulate the local economies in the West Rand and Sedibeng districts.
In the course of this year, the provincial government, in conjunction with the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality, will finalise the Aerotropolis Master Plan for the creation of an airport city around the OR Tambo International Airport. This project has the potential to create thousands of permanent jobs and to inject new life into the flagging manufacturing sector in the region.
Madam Speaker
If I was living in another province, I would certainly be forgiven for believing that the Premier’s State of the Province Address was devoted entirely to the
question of e-tolls. Well, this is what is seems like if we follow media reports on his speech, which largely focused on this issue.
The Premier’s announcement to appoint a panel to “review the impact of e- tolls” and to “invite new proposals on how (we) can find a lasting solution to this matter” has been positively received by a cross section of our people, including those who are vociferously opposed to urban tolling. This is a step forward that is welcomed by the ANC.
In due course the Premier will announce the composition of the panel; its terms of reference, and the time frames within which it should report on the matter. The ANC wishes to assure one and all that this will be an open, transparent and credible process.
Madam Speaker
The hallmarks of the new administration are that it will be a caring, service- oriented and responsive administration. It desires to work with communities and stakeholders in building the Gauteng of our dreams. An important part of that dream is to create an integrated public transport system and roads network that will enable, stimulate and accelerate economic growth and social development. We are poised for an era of real and radical change. Let us grab the opportunity with both hands.
