Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport at the Launch of the Ukhahlamba Sakha
Isizwe Community-Based Transportation Programme, Ngxaxha Village, Mount
Fletcher
22 March 2007
Our past three meetings have laid a solid foundation for sustainable
development in this region. Today, the Department of Roads and Transport
demonstrates its commitment to the provincial government's pledge that: "we
shall not abandon the poor."
In our recent meetings, the people of Mount Fletcher made certain requests,
which needed an urgent response from government in order to bring change in the
lives of our people in this district.
Their requests were guided by a belief that the democratic state could not
retreat from its social obligation of providing basic services to the masses,
particularly the poorest of the poor. Our response is guided by the noble
principle of the Freedom Charter that the "people shall govern."
The past 13 years of our freedom have taught us that government alone cannot
resolve the challenges of inequality and poverty, which necessitate a constant
interaction with the masses to test the strength and capacity of the state to
deliver services.
As the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) White Paper said, "the
birth of a transformed nation can only succeed if the people themselves are
voluntary participants in the process towards the realisation of the goals they
have themselves helped to define."
Surely, we all agree that our social challenges can only be resolved through
the creation of jobs and the eradication of poverty.
I am happy to announce that since our recent interactions, the Department of
Roads and Transport in this district has successfully implemented our
newly-introduced Sakha Isizwe Community-Based Transportation Programme, which
we are launching here today.
This is a programme that is based on the principles of Expanded Public Works
Programme, which aims to institutionalise and guarantee a more balanced
transportation system throughout the Eastern Cape province, and simultaneously
create new work and business opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
This is achieved through the provision of road and other transport
infrastructure and facilities, which ultimately contributes in the
socio-economic development of the rural population.
Since the inception of this programme last year, 1 995 household contractors
have been employed throughout the province, of which 65 are in the Ukhahlamba
District.
There are 47 household contractors in Sterkspruit:
* Seventeen contractors are maintaining road DR8510, covering Coville �
Winterbergan and Mdlokovana Village.
* Thirty contractors maintaining road DR8606, covering Voyisana � Majuba �
Feyana � Hillside up to Boomplaas Village.
As from April 2007, another 18 household contractors (nine males and nine
females) will be starting their work here (Ngxaxha Village, Mount Fletcher) to
maintain 18 kilometres.
In the new financial year, we will increase the number of Ukhahlamba
household contractors by 500.
The department has further spent R6,7 million on fencing:
* fifty six kilometres between Aliwal North and Burgersdorp
* twenty six kilometres from Steynsburg to Teeubus
* forty kilometres from Maclear to Tsolo.
This project has 100 beneficiaries, of which 62 are youth.
Another group of 75 people has received life skills on HIV and AIDS and
Personal Finance through the Department of Labour and would soon receive
technical skills in fencing scheduled to start on 26 March 2007, Monday next
week.
There are many other projects that are taking place in this district, which
have been initiated by the Department of Roads and Transport.
These include:
* Ugie to Langeni Phase one � R240 million
* Maclear to Mount Fletcher Phase two � R140 million.
As we speak, construction is in progress on the roads between:
* Maclear to Mount Fletcher Phase three � R150 million
* Ugie to Langeni Phase two � R420 million
* Ugie to Langeni Phase three � R348 million.
There is a variety of capital projects that will be implemented in the new
financial year using the "upscalling" approach and the Qacha's Nek road has
been identified and we will spend R8 million on it.
The Ukhahlamba District will receive R1,7 million for 49 kilometres under
the Sakha Isizwe Routine Road Maintenance Programme using the up-scaling
approach.
In an effort to promote aviation in the rural areas through our Blue Skyway
Aviation Strategy, the department will spend R2 million to assist the Senqu
Municipality with the development of an airstrip at Rhodes, which will augment
the area's tourism potential.
We will further spend R2 million for the upgrading of the Sterkspruit
vehicle testing centre.
Last year, when I was opening the road between Matatiele and Mount Fletcher,
I indicated the department's intention to develop animal drawn wagons as
another mode of transport that would serve as public transport solution for the
rural communities.
The wagon has been developed and the department has allocated R2,3 million
for the roll-out process to all districts, including Ukhahlamba.
In conclusion, I would like to reassure the people of this district that
government remains committed to change the outlook of our province.
This year, we will intensify the struggle against poverty, working together
with our communities. Let us continue to work together to ensure that we defeat
poverty and its root causes.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
22 March 2007
