Liaison, Roads and Transport at the handing over of graders, bicycles and
wheelchairs to Ukhahlamba District, Aliwal North
25 October 2007
Today we are officially embarking on an offensive against the infrastructure
challenges that continue to frustrate our freedom and democracy.
We are all aware of the critical challenge that we face as we continue to
redress the imbalances of the past through the rehabilitation of our transport
infrastructure.
Our Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP) highlight the importance
of transport infrastructure investment in the realisation of our economic
growth targets. The Department of Roads and Transport remains committed to the
achievement of these PGDP targets and our role is to ensure that our transport
system and infrastructure complement the broader economic growth and
development programme of government.
We have realised the importance of joining forces with local government in
order to deal with our challenges collectively. Earlier this week, I hosted the
first sitting of TransMEC, which is structure where the department interacts
with municipalities with the purpose of building a strong partnership in our
offensive against underdevelopment, poverty, roads and public transport
challenges.
I am happy with the commitment shown by leaders of local government in this
initiative, which will strengthen our capacity and improve service delivery to
our people. Today, we are further starting to respond to the challenges that
were presented by the Ukhahlamba District Growth and Development Summit, which
included the inability for locally produced goods to reach markets due to poor
roads conditions. The Ukhahlamba District, particularly Aliwal North, is a
"Gateway to our province," which has been earmarked as a strategic point for
marketing the province during 2010 Federation International Football
Association (Fifa) World Cup, as it links the Eastern Cape with Free State and
is a passage for visitors from Gauteng and other provinces.
Road infrastructure
It then becomes prudent for us to reposition this region in order to benefit
out of this international football showpiece and other development initiatives
that are in the pipeline, through investing in local transport infrastructure.
The Department of Roads and Transport has a 10-year plan to change the ratio of
surface to gravel roads, with 80% of the 43 465 kilometres provincial network
to surface and 20% to remain gravel. This initiative is being supported by the
substantial recapitalisation of the yellow fleet over the next 10 years.
Already, the first 12 graders worth R16,4 million have been purchased by the
department as a start of the recapitalisation project and were distributed to
all districts in the province to maintain our road network. Two of those
graders have been deployed in the Ukhahlamba District. We expect the district
municipalities, together with the department's district manager, to co-ordinate
the utilisation of this equipment.
Of significant importance is the constant maintenance of key economic roads,
which have been identified as Mobility Corridors in the Spatial Development
Framework, especially in the Elundini and Senqu areas, where population numbers
are higher and there are a lot of untapped economic opportunities.
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 1: R240 million
* Maclear to Mount Fletcher Phase 2: R140 million
As we speak, construction is in progress on the roads between:
* Maclear to Mount Fletcher Phase 3: R150 million
* Ugie to Langeni Phase 2: R420 million
* Ugie to Langeni Phase 3: R348 million
We are further implementing a variety of capital projects using the
"upscalling" approach and R8million has been spent on the Qacha's Nek road.
Sakha Isizwe
We are working closely with municipalities in the implementation of our
Sakha Isizwe Community-Based Transportation Programme, where more than 3 000
poor households are already maintaining certain stretches of road and obtain
salaries from the department. Their work entails road maintenance, upgrading,
construction, focus on roadside animal management, fencing, pedestrian safety,
footpaths, non-motorised transport, gabion basket manufacturing, rangers
etc.
As we speak, 399 household contractors are working throughout this district
and today 23 of them will receive certificates that they obtained after
undergoing training offered by the Department of Labour. Through this
programme, last year we spent R6,5 million in this district on fencing the
following areas:
* 56 kilometres between Aliwal North and Burgersdorp
* 26 kilometres from Steynsburg to Teeubus
* 40 kilometres from Maclear to Tsolo
A total of 100 people benefited.
We have household contractors, who are maintaining road T510, which covers
villages such as Coville, Winterbergan and Mdlokovana, and T606 which covers
villages such as Voyisana, Majuba, Feyana â Hillside up to Boomplass. Other
men, women and youth are maintaining the 18km road of Ngxaxha Village in Mount
Fletcher.
This new programme is expected to significantly improve the quality of the
overall provincial road network and transportation system, and the targeted
roads will assist in improving accessibility to economic activities, tourism
opportunities, schools, clinics and other government services.
Back to rail
The District Growth and Development Summit raised the challenge of under
utilisation of locally situated railway lines, especially the line between
Aliwal North and Barkly East, which is of unique value and could be a
significant tourist attraction. This year, the Department of Roads and
Transport has spent R4 million on the development of the 10-year Provincial
Rail Plan, which will look at the feasibility of certain lines, including the
link between Burgersdorp and Aliwal North, which is infrequently being used for
goods.
We will start the implementation of that Rail Plan in June 2008, which will
serve as a launching pad of our offensive for the massive revitalisation of
rail infrastructure in the Province and we expect municipalities to assist us
in the prioritisation process.
Aviation
In an effort to promote aviation in the rural areas of our province, the
Department has increased its focus on the development of municipal and rural
airstrips in line with our Blue Skyway Aviation Strategy. We are already
assisting the Senqu Municipality with the development of an airstrip at Rhodes
to the value of R2 million to support tourism.
Traffic law enforcement
I strongly believe that we need to strengthen the traffic law enforcement
capacity of municipalities. Our intervention will assist municipalities in
revenue generation. We are busy with the upgrade of the Sterkspruit Testing
Centre at a cost of R2 million.
I would like to call upon municipalities to assist us in fighting corruption,
which has become prevalent in these testing centres.
Shova Lula
This year, the department has spent more than R5 million on the
implementation of Shova Lula Bicycle Project, which seeks to assist learners
who travel long distances to reach schools. This is the third time that I hand
over bicycles in this district and more than 1000 bicycles have been
distributed to the Ukhahlamba District alone.
Today, I am officially handing over another 80 bicycles. Our main objective
is to ensure that we facilitate the access of our learners to education in
order to realise the "Opening of Doors of Learning and Culture to all."
People with disabilities
Our Constitution instructs all of us to continuously support our people, who
have physical limitations and enable them to enjoy the fruits of freedom and
democracy. As part of improving the mobility of people with disabilities,
especially those who are victims of road accidents, the department has
purchased 10 wheelchairs for the Ukhahlamba district.
Maletswai Gymnaestrada sponsorship
Since the advent of democracy, we have observed the growing number of South
Africans, irrespective of social backgrounds, emerging from humble beginnings
and making our country proud. Today, South Africa is being taken serious in
international sporting events, because of the contribution and competition that
we make as a nation.
As government, we have an obligation to support our sportsmen and women,
irrespective of race, to encourage them in their endeavours to keep South
Africaâs flag flying high. The department has sponsored tracksuits and training
shoes to Maletswai Gymnaestrada who represented the country in the
international competition in Austria.
In conclusion, I would like to recommit the Department of Roads and
Transport in this partnership with local government and our communities, which
I believe will enable all of us to play a pivotal role in the reconstruction
and development of our province.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
25 October 2007
