B Cele: Sod turning of Ntembisweni Local Road

10 March 2009

Protocol observed

* Our gathering here today for the sod turning is indicative of the fact
that our government has ears to listen. As a democratically elected government
we respond to the needs of our communities. We do that irrespective of which
political party those people belong to.

* Today we are responding to a request by the community that a local road be
constructed that will provide linkage between the areas of Entembisweni,
Mdlelanto, Greytown and Seven Oakes areas. The total cost of the project is
estimated at R30 million. The proposed length is 19 kilometres. The projected
duration of the project is 10 months.

* Vukuzakhe contractors will be utilised for the construction of the road
and about 40 locals will get job opportunities. Approximately 38 locals will be
recruited in Zibambele Poverty Alleviation Programme, so that they can perform
maintenance on the road. Umvoti Municipality now has about 990 Zibambele
contractors. The Department has spent R5,4 million in this programme.

* There are five schools (Entembisweni Primary School, Candabuthule High
School, Ntandoyethu Lower Primary School, Mgaga Primary Shool, Ndubazi Primary
School) and one clinic (Entembisweni Clinic) that will benefit through the
construction of this local road.

* The road will serve over 150 households with a population of over 1 500
people. The road is anticipated to serve traffic volumes of not less than 70
vehicles per day. Many residents had to leave this area due to violence that
erupted some years ago. Therefore, constructing this road will encourage the
residents that migrated to other areas to return to their properties.

* There is also agricultural potential which will materialise once the road
is constructed and the Department of Agriculture will use the road to access
residents interested in agriculture.

* This road will also shorten the distance travelled on foot to get public
transport.

* This is not the first time we have government in the history of South
Africa and KwaZulu-Natal in particular. But our people where these
infrastructure projects were constructed bear testimony of how much improved
their lives have been.

*In conclusion, despite the limited funding, we will try to address the
backlog to the best of our abilities in the spirit of Operation Kushunquthuli
and ultimately so that the quality of lives of the people of KwaZulu- Natal is
better than yesterday and their tomorrow is better than today.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
10 March 2009
Source: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal
Provincial Government (http://www.kzntransport.gov.za)