Safety and Liaison Mr B H CELE during sod turning of Thulwane Bridge,
Inkandla
3 February 2009
All protocol observed
* In the past financial years we have dedicated our budget two things. We
have dedicated it to road safety because the Department of Transport has a
constitutional responsibility to ensure that our people have a safe and
reliable transport system in the province.
* Another focal point of our budget has been the road infrastructure
development * the building of access roads, the building of pedestrian bridges,
the building of vehicle bridges, particularly in the rural areas. All this is
done under âOperation KuShunquthuliâ.
* We know that as a country, our focus is on transport system for 2010. But as
the Department of Transport we want to ensure that while our focus is on 2010
and beyond, we continue to provide transport infrastructure to our rural
communities who may not be affected directly by 2010 projects.
* Therefore we dedicated our budget to areas such as Inkandla, where people
still travel kilometers on foot to the nearest clinic, hospital, school,
pension payout points. We say as government we cannot allow a situation where
teachers and learners of have to undress everyday to cross rivers to
school.
1. Inkandla is one of the areas in the province that have been declared as
priority areas for service delivery due to the high rate of poverty and
unemployment. The KZN Department of Transport has invested R1, 9 billion to
deal with the service delivery challenges in the Uthungulu District.
* Our projects include the construction of P240, P230, P15, P50, P499/P494,
P496 * John Ross Highway, P218 and P568 among others.
* Todayâs sod turning marks the beginning of the construction of Uthulwane
Vehicle Bridge over Uthukela River as well as access road. The estimated cost
of the project is R37.5 million. The access road is about 11 km long and is at
the tune of R7.5 million. The bridge is R30 million.
* The construction work will involve a substantial financial injection into the
area with job opportunities being created for locals. This is done by a
government which has decided to work for all its citizens, without any
consideration of political affiliation.
* It is against this background therefore that our people who were previously
disadvantaged are now on record giving testimony that indeed, we do follow up
on our commitments. Indeed, imisebenzi iyabonakala.
* This is not the first time we have government in the history of South Africa
and KwaZulu-Natal in particular. But our people have only begun to see change
in their lives through our democratic governmentâs development
programmes.
* Today we are also rolling out the Road Monitor Programme which seeks to
address the traffic hazard caused by livestock on provincial roads and at the
same time, deals with challenges of unemployment and poverty alleviation.
2. This programme will give employment opportunities to 50% women and 50%
youth. It entails essentially the equipping of a local person with a bicycle
and safety clothing and he or she would be required to roam a designated
stretch of road and herd any livestock off it.
* When the democratic government took over in 1994, the challenge was not only
to address historical imbalances but also to face new challenges imposed by
globalization; challenges such as crime, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS), poverty etc. It is in this context that we set our selves a goal of
achieving a better life for all.
* In conclusion, as we head towards elections, remember that a better life is
based on certain fundamentals and preconditions which include peace, democracy
and development.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
3 February 2009
Source: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal
Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za)
