B Cele on behalf of J Radebe: African Union Transport Conference

15 October 2007

It is an honour to have an opportunity to say a few words at the start of
this inaugural AU Conference for Ministers responsible for Road Transport. This
conference comes at the most appropriate time when the Road Infrastructure is
increasingly becoming a key pillar for the economic development of the
Continent and the well-being of its entire people. I am therefore pleased to
note that this first session brings together experts, policymakers and
implementers from the road sub-sector to exchange views on how best we can
improve our road network to accelerate economic growth and social development
in the African Continent.

I would therefore like to thank all of you for accepting the invitation to
be part of this inaugural Conference. Your presence today is an important
display of support for this ambitious and innovative African project. Let me
also thank, in particular, the African Union for allowing the Republic of South
Africa to host this all important conference.

Ladies and gentlemen, it cannot be overemphasised that an efficient
transport system is an important driver of the economic growth of our
continent. It is only through a sound transport system that we can have an
efficient movement of people and goods as well as trade across national
borders. It is against this background that the African Ministers responsible
for Road Transport have prioritised the improvement of our road network to
address challenges of connectivity and mobility among our nations.

This will not only bring economic benefits to the Continent but will also
enable Africa to meet its commitments under the Almaty Declaration particularly
for the land locked nations. Our strategy for growth and employment depends
largely in our firm commitment to create viable road networks that would
increase the competitiveness of our nations and industries. Road
infrastructure, in this context, becomes a major asset for Africa which must be
integrated with other modes of transport for the optimum allocation and
utilisation of resources.

As we convene today we therefore need to evaluate our road infrastructure
network on the basis of relative optimisation between modes of transport. We
also need to ensure that our integrated rural development programmes are
prominent in our agenda. Each one of you in your respective positions must
plead the merits of financing road infrastructure and must demonstrate that it
will not only have a positive effect on growth but will also create economic
and social cohesion in Africa. Let us also continue with our increased
engagement of the private sector to play a more direct role in the financing,
construction, management and maintenance of the new strategic road
infrastructure networks.

Ladies and gentlemen, I therefore presume that a dialogue on the development
and implementation of Africa's road infrastructure master plan has already
begun. And this will allow us to prioritise important corridors for
connectivity and mobility of our nations. Participation in this renewal process
is not only for the preserve or responsibility of government or state organs.
It calls for a partnership working for the common good between not only the
public and private sectors as traditionally defined, but one which involves
labour, civil society and more generally those sectors previously excluded and
marginalised.

As South Africa, we are convinced of a great potential of this vision. We
have made the notion "road infrastructure" to be associated with a 'quality
label' fulfilling a number of criteria: efficiency, reliability, safety and
quality of services. In this process we have fundamentally transformed the way
in which we plan, finance and manage our road infrastructure.
We have mastered public/private partnerships (PPP), mutually beneficial to
government and the private sector. And, for the first time, we have also
developed a Road Infrastructure Framework for South Africa as a blueprint for
roads development across our nation. Our philosophy has been to ensure the
involvement of all stakeholders without whom the road infrastructure will not
be realised. We have had to reassure them that we are putting in place a system
for the long-term.

As South Africa, we are therefore on course in achieving our commitment to
improve our existing road network but most importantly to improve our
connectivity within the context of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) protocol.

For instance, the South African National Roads Agency has successfully
developed and improved national road infrastructure in key corridors such as
the Maputo Development Corridor; the Platinum Highway and the N1, N3 (and N11)
corridors that form part of the North-South Corridor. We have also developed a
Regional Infrastructure Action Agenda that identifies opportunities for
improving regional links.

Through this process we are now improving the Sani Pass access road in
KwaZulu-Natal jointly with Lesotho in order to ensure improved access through
the Sani Pass border post. A new project has also been initiated to improve the
access road to Monontsha Pass in the Free Sate to improve South Africa-Lesotho
movement. We are also at the brink of finalising the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for the improvement of river crossings at border posts
between South Africa and Botswana and funds have already been secured to begin
this work.

As we gather here today, no one doubts the role of the road infrastructure
in contributing and improving the transport system in our continent. But the
dream of connectivity among Member States is still a long way from realisation.
It is therefore extremely timely to have an analytic assessment of where we
are, of what we have done well and what not so well so that we can learn from
each other and use our scarce resources well. The challenge is not whether we
should use and improve our road infrastructure but how best and with what
priorities.

Indeed, the intention for this AU conference is to assemble all the
stakeholders in order to share best practices and get a better idea of where
the benchmark lies. We also need to see what is best suited to the needs and
possibilities of this continent and perhaps to avoid some of the mistakes made
by other nations elsewhere.

I wish to state that the AU deserves our gratitude for taking the initiative
on this topic and for pushing forward with the organisation of this conference.
As South Africa, once again, we are delighted to have been given an opportunity
to host this conference. I hope the participants will get every opportunity to
learn, to share knowledge and ideas and to come away with some new thoughts and
a clearer vision on this important topic.

As Ministers responsible for Road Transport, we would eagerly await the
proposals and recommendations that will come out of this first session in order
to strengthen our discussion and planning later in the week. It is therefore
necessary for the delegates who are here today, to give their undivided
attention to the task at hand.

With those few words, it is my great pleasure to declare this session
officially opened and wish you fruitful deliberations.

I thank you for your attention.

Issued by: Department of Transport
15 October 2007
Source: SAPA