Minister of Transport 2013 Budget Speech & Responses by ANC, DA and IFP

Briefing

28 May 2013

Minister of Transport, Mr Dikobe Ben Martins, gave his Budget Vote Speech on the 28 May 2013
________________________________________________________________
Honourable Chairperson;
Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga;
My colleagues Ministers present;
Chairperson of the Transport Portfolio Committee, Ms Ruth Bhengu and Honourable members of the Portfolio Committee;
Chairperson of the Select Committee on Public Services, Mr Pat Sibande and Honourable members of the Select Committee;
Honourable members of Parliament;
The Acting Director General of Transport, Dr Maria du Toit and senior officials from the Ministry and the Department;
Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of State Owned Companies and agencies
Esteemed Members of Executive Councils and Heads of Department from provinces;
Your excellencies Transport Sector Stakeholders;
Esteemed and distinguished guests;
Comrades and friends;
Members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen.

The 25th May 2013 marked a day of historical importance – the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

The fervent desire by Africans to be the architects and masters of their own destiny led to the formation of the OAU on the 25th May 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Historically, it has been a long and winding road from then to now:
at times characterized by the autumn of despair;
at other times by the winter blight of coups d’e tats
and civil wars sprouting petals and roses of blood.
at other times, Africa has been characterized
by the eternal spring of hope 
and summers filled with the clear
innocent unreserved laughter
of children
ringing to a clear
blue sky

In South Africa, we stand at the threshold of our country celebrating twenty years of freedom and democracy.

This time next year, we shall have completed our second decade of democracy. It is indeed a singular privilege and honour to present our Budget Vote on the eve of such a momentous milestone for our country.

Over the past nineteen years, since the advent of the democratic dispensation, the African National Congress led government has made significant strides to transform the transport industry, from non-motorised to air transport, to meet the social and economic needs of our people, especially the urban and the rural poor – the wretched of South Africa.

When the ANC government came to power in 1994, it inherited a transport system voetstoots that had, at best, invested to benefit the white minority component of our society, and at worst, a transport system that had been under-funded, neglected and which was based on blinkered apartheid spatial patterns.
In order to deal with this situation, the ANC government developed the National Transport Policy that was published in August 1996.

Although significant strides have been made since then – occasioned by major capital injection into transport related infrastructure, there is still much to achieve.
All across some of our cities, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, Rustenburg and others, we are seeing investments in transport infrastructure, such as the Bus Rapid Transport system which is a catalyst for urban regeneration, reconnecting isolated nodes and bringing disconnected communities closer to economic opportunities.

To meet our commitments as host nation to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, government accelerated its build programme and invested billions to ensure a safe, efficient and reliable public transport system that resulted in world-class airports, roads, upgraded train stations and refurbished coaches. This drive to reshape public transport travel in South Africa continues.

Transport infrastructure and services remain crucial for generating economic growth, alleviating poverty, reducing the scourge of inequality and increasing domestic and international competitiveness.

In financing transport infrastructure we are aware of South Africa’s institutional, economic and social characteristics including various demands made on tax based revenues. We accept the fact that there is no universal funding model – it is a considered choice among several models each with their pros and cons. To this end, we welcome the willingness of the private sector to invest in transport infrastructure.

Our effort to make transport the heartbeat of the economy continues. We are aware that transport is an enabling sector which impacts on growth and development in other sectors of the economy.

The department is in the process of finalising the National Transport Master Plan (NATMAP) before it is submitted to Cabinet.

The NATMAP will constitute a long term plan to further position transport as an enabler for social and economic development by rolling out infrastructure and services that respond to the needs of all South Africans and ensures we meet our Millennium Development Goals.

NATMAP will focus on integrated transport planning to ensure that the different modes of transport complement each other.

The alignment between the National Transport Master Plan (NATMAP) and the National Development Plan (NDP) which sets out critical national policy goals to be achieved by 2030, includes implementing the user pay principle in a manner that does not have a crushing effect on the working class and the poor.

Within the prevailing economic climate, the fiscus alone is not able to finance the current infrastructure backlog in South Africa.

The budget

The Budget allocation for the Department of Transport for the financial year 2013/14 is R42.3 billion (R42 275 340 000), and this includes allocations to provinces, municipalities, state owned companies and agencies.

Of the allocated amount, R18 billion (R18 850 917 0000) will be transferred to provinces and municipalities towards road maintenance.

Effective coordination with provinces and municipalities is therefore needed to ensure that the department is not only a conduit of funds to the other spheres of government, but that, importantly, it plays a leading role in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of government programmes.

To this end, and in the spirit of cooperative governance, SANRAL will provide a critical supporting role in the implementation of the Maintenance Programme.
Another portion of the budget amounting to R21.9 billion (R21 941 930 000) will be transferred to state owned companies and agencies which are the delivery agents of the department.

The department is building the requisite internal capacity in order to better enable it to conduct the necessary oversight over the State Owned Companies and agencies under its remit.

Significant progress has been made to align the strategies and annual performance plans of the State Owned Companies and agencies of the department.

After distributing the allocated Budget to provinces, municipalities, State Owned Companies and agencies, the Department is left with R921 million (R921 562 000) to carry out its policy development and oversight responsibilities.

It is common cause that sound economic infrastructure is a precondition for economic growth. It is for this reason that the Department of Transport has intensified efforts to develop and improve South Africa’s transport system to serve as a catalyst for social and economic development.

Accordingly, the spending focus over the next year will predominantly be on:
1. Maintaining road infrastructure;
2. Upgrading the rail infrastructure and services; and
3. Constructing and operating public transportation infrastructure

Expenditure on these three areas will include the following transfers, which comprise an average of 96.1% of the total budget allocation of the Department of Transport over the medium term.

The State Owned Companies that fall under the remit of the Department of Transport will be allocated the following disbursements and grants:

  • The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA)  - R 3.678 billion for current operations and R 7.481 billion for capital infrastructure;
  • The South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) – R3.454 billion for current operations and R7.043 billion for capital infrastructure.

And grants will be allocated to:

  • The Provincial Road Asset Maintenance Grant – R8.696 billion;
  • The Rural Roads Asset Management System Grant – R52.2 million; and
  • The Public Transport Infrastructure, Operations and Network Grants – R5.55 billion.

Other transfer payments will include:

  • The Road Traffic Management Corporation – R167 million;
  • The Railway Safety Regulator – R46. 5 million;
  • The Road Traffic Infringement Agency – R25 million;
  • The South African Maritime Safety Authority – R6.4 million;
  • The South African Civil Aviation Authority – R18.155 million; and
  • The taxi recapitalization programme – R522 million

In line with the perspective of an integrated transport model, the spending focus over the medium term will be on developing and implementing strategies based on a multi-modal national system of transport. Major projects in this regard will include:

i. The establishment of a single transport economic regulator;
ii. Establishment of a macro planning framework;
iii. Implementation of a national corridor framework;
iv. Finalising the update of the national freight database; and
v. The completion and analysis of the National Household Survey

The following over-arching development principles remain cardinal, in relation to the foregoing, namely:
1. Balancing the development of new infrastructure with the ongoing maintenance of the existing infrastructure;
2. Improving infrastructure links with rural and financial and human resource challenged provinces;
3. Addressing capacity constraints and improving co-ordination and integration; and
4. Scaling up investment in infrastructure

Four key sectors remain central to the envisaged developments, namely, transport, water and sanitation, energy and communications.

In this regard, the Department of Transport continues to play a central role in the following two strategic infrastructure projects:
1. The Durban-Free State- Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor
2. Unlocking the economic potential and opportunities in the North West province.

The department further plays a supportive role in other strategic infrastructure projects.

Balanced investment in transport infrastructure will lead South Africa to efficient and sustainable growth, mobility and community access. It is important that the cost of doing business in South Africa is reduced in order to ensure that our economy remains competitive in global markets.

Honourable Chairperson,

Upgrading the railway infrastructure and services

Within the period under review, the procurement process for the fleet renewal programme of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) was concluded in December 2012.

The success of the programme will lead to:

  • A new coach building and locomotive assembly plant being established in the Gauteng province;
  • As a result of this, 8 300 direct jobs will be created; and
  • Another 22 000 jobs will be created through localisation

The accelerated rolling stock programme has been concluded and has resulted in:

  • 579 coaches being delivered in 2012/13 to Metro Rail;
  • 3 Coaches to Shosholoza Meyl and
  •  9 locomotives upgraded at a cost of more than R1.3 billion.

Furthermore 49 stations were upgraded and improved as part of the National Station Improvement Programme at a cost of R221 million. The total capital spend of R6.2 billion was reached at the end of March 2013.

The conundrum we face is that, whilst the increase in capital subsidy is in line with the strategy to modernise public transport, the operational subsidy is, however, below the levels required to sustain the envisaged growth strategy. The operational subsidy decreased by 1% in real terms between 2010 and 2012.
In the medium term, the focus in rail will continue to be on the upgrade and expansion of the priority commuter rail corridors.

The safety of communities, especially children, who reside very close to railway lines, as a result of poor apartheid spatial development planning, continues to be a serious concern for the Rail Safety Regulator.

Evidential data points to the fact that accidents where persons get struck by trains in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and in the Western Cape, is primarily because of poor spatial planning.

On the other hand, criminal activities such as cable theft, the theft and vandalizing of signaling equipment remains a serious concern, as it results in exorbitant operational costs.

PRASA, the Rail Safety Regulator and the South African Police Services continue to refine and align their systems in order to deal decisively with this problem that amounts to economic sabotage.

South African National Road Agency Limited  (SANRAL)

As we mentioned earlier, SANRAL received R3.454 billion for current operations and R7.043 billion for capital infrastructure.

South Africa has a total road network of 750 000 km of which 17 000km is managed by SANRAL.

Non-toll road network accounts for 83.1% of the national road network which is funded by the fiscus, the balance of 16.9% form part of the toll portfolio network of roads.

During the 2012/13 financial year, SANRAL awarded 202 contracts for new works, rehabilitation and improvement, periodic and special maintenance, routine road maintenance, community development, supervision and other activities to the value of R11.6 billion with R9.5 billion being spent on non-toll roads.

SANRAL spent a total of R1.8 billion on contracts with Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) of which R1.2 billion went to black owned firms, for both toll and non-toll roads.

Sanral will continue to implement non-toll projects during the MTEF period.

With regard to the road traffic management,

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has redefined the National Rolling Enforcement Plan to provide a platform for co-ordinated law enforcement and visible policing in South Africa.

It has exceeded its target of stopping and checking a million vehicles per month, by approximately 1.5%. Its new target is now 1.1 million per month.
Road traffic interventions for the 2013/14 period will include the following three focus areas:
i. The International Road Assessment Programme, which will assess road safety solutions that relate to the road infrastructure. The aim has been set to pass 4000 km of road in the 2013/14 financial year;
ii. The establishment of a Crash Information Management System, which will provide the public with statistics; and
iii. The establishment of a new qualifications framework for traffic officers.
The Deputy Minister will expand further on the work of our road safety agencies and cover other aspects of her delegated responsibilities.

With regard to Maritime

The lode star of our campaign to promote the Maritime sector and to encourage its greater industrialization was to declare the year 2013 as Maritime Year.
South Africa has a coastline of over 3000km, and is a strategic hub for international merchant ships, connecting the global East and West.

Notwithstanding its strategic location, South Africa does not own a single flag carrying ship, which means that it has to rely on foreign shipping companies to transport its outbound and inbound seaborne cargo, at a direct cost to the economy of approximately R34 billion, according to the 2012 estimates.
We are working closely with SAMSA and maritime stakeholders to unlock South Africa’s maritime potential.

Furthermore, we signed the Djibouti Code of Conduct, that empowers South Africa to share resources and information with other countries, in the fight against piracy and other crimes at sea.

This year’s major projects will include:
1. The finalisation of enabling Maritime Transport Policy, the development of a Green Paper on maritime shipping and concluding consultations on the Ballast Water Management Bill;
2. The finalisation and launch of the Inland Waterways Strategy;
3. The finalisation and adoption of the Maritime Transport Broad Based Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) implementation plan, and the appointment of its Council;
4. Together with the Departments of Higher Education and Training, and Basic Education, we will launch Maritime Education and Training initiatives at no less than ten (10) Further Education and Training (FETs) Colleges countrywide and at least one High School per coastal province.

Conclusion

Honourable Chairperson, in conclusion, I wish to thank the Deputy Minister, the Ministry and Department officials and staff for their unwavering commitment and support.

I implore honourable Members to support the Department’s budget for the 2013/2014 financial year.

I thank you.

Speech by Hon Ruth Bengu during the Budget Vote Debate on Transport

Sihlalo ohloniphekile,
Malunga ahloniphekile esishayamthetho kuzwelonke,
ONgqongqoshe beminyango namasekela abo.
Nhloko yomnyango wezokuthutha nethimba lakho
Osihlalo bama bhodi ezinkampani nezinhlaka zomnyango wezokuthutha,
Abaholi bezinhlangano zezokhuthutha eNingizimu Africa.
Mphakathi wase Ningizimu Africa.

i ANC iyaseseka isabelo sezimali somnyango wezokuthutha. Lokhu sikwenza ngokhulu ukuziqhenya ngoshinthso olwenziwe yi African National Congress kwezokuthutha.

Sihlalo ohloniphekile,

I African National Congress ithe angikhulume ngalezihloko ezintathu ezilandelayo, ukuthi

u Hulumeni ka African National Congress wathola isimo esinjani kwezokuthutha kulelizwe ngesikhathi uthatha umbuso ngo 1994.
Wenzeni umnyango wezokuthutha ukulungisa lesosimo ngokulandela izinhlelo nemigoma ka ANC.
Yiziphi izingqinamba nezinkinga ezikhona kwezokuthutha nokuthi i ANC ithi zingaxazululwa kanjani.
Kuhle ngichaza ukuthi kungani iqembu lingithume ukuthi ngikhulume ngalezihloko esengizibalile.

Sifuna ukusiza abantu bakithi nesizwe sonke sase Ningizimu Africa ukuthi bangadlali oxovizwe abangalufuni ushintsho, abadlise ababntu ushevu bathi akukhulunywe ngenamhlanje kungabukwa ukuthi kwakunjani kulelizwe ngaphambi kuka 1994.

Oxovizwe bakusho lokho ngoba bayazi ukuthi bashiya amanyala wodwa. Izwe lalibuswa kungekho Master Plan yokuthuthukisa izwe lonke nemiphakathi yonke yaseNingizimu Africa.

Ezokuthutha zazingahleliwe ngendlela yokuthuthukisa izwe nokuveza amathuba emisebenzi nasezindaweni zabamnyama. nokwenza kubelula ukuhamba kubantu bonke baseNingizimu Afrika, nokwenza kubelula ukufika kwabantu ezikhungweni zomphakathi, okuyimitholampilo, iziteshi zamaphoyisa, izinkantolo, amasonto, izinkundla zemidlalo, emsebenzini nasemadolobheni.

Kwakungenamthetho owumkhombandlela kwezokuthutha ohambisana nendlela ehlekekile yokusetshenziswa komhlaba ngenhloso yokuthuthukisa zonke izinhlanga zaseNingizimu Afrika.

Imithetho kazwelonke kwezokuthutha neyezifundazwe yayingahambisani nemithetho yohulumeni basekhaya.

Yenzani ke i ANC uma ifica isimo sibheda kanje?

I ANC yathatha umbuso ngo 1994, ngo 1996 yayisikwazile ukukhipha i White Paper on National Transport Policy ewumhombandlela wokuthuthukisa ezokuthutha.

Le Policy ibeka izixhazululo zezinkinga ezikhona kwezokuthutha kanti futhi ibonisa ukuthi ezokuthutha ziwumgogodla wentuthuko yomnotho wezwe nenhlalakahle yomphakathi - Transport is the heartbeat for social and economic development.

Ukuchaza ukuthi sisukaphi kosiza intsha yethu esakhasa kwezepolitiki, Eny yayo esijabulela izikhundla nemali, ivalwe namehlo ukuze yenziwa imikhovu okuthakathwa ngayo ekhaya.

Mabi amanga, lihle iqiniso.

Iqiniso wykuthi uhulumeni ka African National Congress wafica amanyala wodwa kwezokuthutha.,kuyo yonke imikhakha yezokuthuthu okubalwa kuwo:

Imigwaqo
Izithuthi zomphakathi
Izitimela
Izindiza
Nemikhumbi
Kwezemigwaqo – Roads

U Hulumeni we ANC wathola isimo sezemigwaqo singathuthukile ngokufanayo ezindaweni ezazihlala abampofu nabayizigwili. There were uneven levels of development.

Imigwaqo yetiyela enezibane yayisemadolobheni kuphela.

Imigwaqo iyonke e South Africa ingamakhilimitha = 752 700km
Imigwaqo yetiyela exhuma izifundazwe ( National Roads) = 6 700km okuwu 1% wemigwaqo yalelizwe.
Imigwaqo yezifundazwe (Provincial Roads) = 367 000 okuwu 47%) eyitiyela = 57 269km eyobhuqu nodaka =198 142km okumele ifakwe itiyela.
Imgwaqo engaziwa ukuthi ingaphansi kwamuphi uhulumeni nayo ewubhuqu = 221 000 okuwu 29%.
Engaphansi kohulumeni basekhaya epoor eminye ewubhuqu = 168 000km okuwu 23% - lemigwaqo kumele ihlale ilungiswa eminye yayo ifakwe itiyela.
Imigwaqo exhuma imiphakathi nezikhungo zomphakathi access roads nayo futhi engemihle iwu 88 531km okumele ifakwe itiyela.
Imgwaqo yobhuqu yazozonke izifundazwe = 198 142km okumele ifakwe itiyela.
Ukwakhiwa kwemigwaqo yetiye emakhaya naleyo exhma imiphakathi yinto eqale ngoba sekuphethe u ANC. Ngaphambili abantu abamnyama kwathiwa abxove udaka.

Imigwaqo eminingi iyi gravel akhambeki uma izulu lina.

Imigwaqo yetiyela amaNational and Provincial Roads isifike ekupheleni kwempilo yayo okusho ukuthi sekumele ligugulwe itiyela umgwaqo uqalwe phansi wakhiwe kabusha.

I ANC yathi uma ifica lesisimo yabona ukuthi angeke uhulumeni yedwa abe nayo imali eyanele yokulungisa imigwaqo emidala nokwakha imigwaqo emisha.

Ukubhekana nalesimo u Mongameli wokuqala we South Africa ekhululekile wethula i Masakhane Campaign ngo 1995 enemigomo emine yokubhekana nalesimo.

Ukukhuthaza imiphakathi ukuthi labo abanamandla bakhokhele izidingo – Payment for services by those who can afford to pay.
Ukukhokhelwa kwezidingo zomphakathi yilabo abazisebenzisayo – User pay policy
Ukuxhaswa kwabampofu yilabo abayizigwili nabadla kangcono – Cross subsidisation of the poor by the rich.
Ukunikeza abampofu izidingo bangakhokhiswa lutho.
Yilemigomo eyalandelwa ngesikhathi kusungulwa i SANRAL ngo 1998 inikezwa amandla okuboleka izimali zokwakha imigwaqo ekhokhelwayo yilabo abayisebenzisayo toll-roads.

Abantu abahamba ngezimoto zabo basezingeni lokukwazi ukukhokhela izimigwaqo ekhokhelwayo njenge GFIP.

Abantu abampofu abahamba ngezithuthi zomphakathi okungamabhasi namatekisi abayikhokhile imigwaqweni ye GFIP ngoba izithuthi zomphakathi nazo aziyikhokheli lemigwaqo.

Yini i Integrated Transport Systems ? Wohlelo lokuxhumanisa ezokuthutha nokuzihlela ngendela eyenza kube lula ukuheha abatshali zimali kube lula ukuthuthukisa izindawo ezingekathuthuki kwenze nomphakathi uhambe kalula.

E South Africa kuse Gauteng lapho kuhlolwa khona lendlela yokuthuthukisa ezokuthutha.

ukuthuthukiswa kwe O T Tambo airport
Ukwakhiwa komzila we Gautrain nokuqala kokusebenzisa izitimela ezinejubane elikhulu- high speed train
ukulungiswa kweziteshi zezitimela nezitimela
i BRT ebizwa ngokuthi Riya Vaya okuxhuma amatekisi namabhasi okuyimikhakha yezokuthutha ebikhungethwe wudlame ingasebenzisani ngaphambilini. Okwenze nabamatekisi bangena kwi Main Stream of the economy.
Ukwakhiwa kwemigwaqo ekhokhelwayo enemizila eyisithupha uhlangothi ngalunye eyakhelwe kakhulu ukwehlisa izingozi nesikhathi sokuhamba.
Umuntu oneqiniso ulubuka lulonke loluhlelo lokuththukisa ezokuthutha. Labo abasebenzisa imizwa bayayehlukanisa imigwaqo kuloluhlelo ngoba befuna ukuzuza iznhloso zabo zepolitiki bengafuni kube noshintsho kwezokuthutha.Angeke kwaba yiqiniso ukuthi abantu basemakhaya abangekabi nayo imigwaqo yetiyela kuthiwe abakhokhele imigwaqo abangayisebenzisi esetshenziswa yizigwili zasegoli ezihamba ngezimoto uma ziya emsebenzini. Abasebenzi basegoli abahamba ngezithuthi zomphakathi alubathinti loluhlelo ngoba izithuthi zomphakati azikhokhi. Abantu basemakhaya basaxova udaka, baqhutshwa ngamabhala uma beya emitholampilo, ngabe asinalo iqiniso uma singathi abahluphekayo nabahlala ezindaweni ezingathuthukile akube yibo abaxhasa izigwili. I policy ye coross subsidisation ithi izigwili okumele zixhase abampofu.

Ngakho siyayicela i COSATU ukuthi ilubhekisise kahle loludaba lokulwisa i GFIP ingazitholi isisetshenziswa ukulwa izimpi ezingabathinti abasebenzi nabantu abampofu.

I ANC iyalweseka uhlelo lwe Integrated Transport System. Sizoqala manje sibheke ukuthi loluhlelo oluqale e Gauteng lunaziphi izimpawu okuyodinga zilungiswe ngaphambi kokuthi ludluliselwe kwamanye amadolobha e South Africa ukuze kubelula ukuhamba kwabantu nokwenza amabhizinisi kulelizwe.

Mphathisihlalo,

Inzima impilo kuma rural areas, kunezindawo lapho izingane zesikole zisawela imifula emikhulu uma ziya ezikoleni ngenxa yokuthi amabhuloho okuwela imifula azange akhiwe ngesikhathi kwakhiwa izikole.

Lesosimo size saqala ukulungiswa wu hulumeni we ANC kusuka ngo 1994.

Nohulumeni abamnyama njengase Transkei nowa KwaZulu baqhubeka basebenzisa umhlaba ngendlela eyayihlelwe wuhulumeni wobandlululo.

Baqhubeka bakha izikole ngaphesheya kwemifula.

Wumuntu owayehluleka wukucabanga owayebeka isikole ngaphesheya komfula, kude le nomphakathi. Yileyonyakanyaka-ke eyaficwa wukhongolose kwezokuthuthu.

Ezindaweni zasemakhaya kunabantu abasaqhutshwa ngamabhala uma beya emtholampilo.

Abantu abahlala e Soweto babeze bazichaze ngokuthi bona baphuma emigwaqweni yase SOWETO enezintuli phecelezi “ We come from the dusty streets of SOWETO”

Kwakune qembu lomculo elalibizwa ngokuthi ama Dark City Sisters ngoba labobaculi behlala elokoshini elingenagesi. Namhlanje izitaladi zase SOWETO ziyitiyela, ziyakhanya, abasasho abantu base SOWETO ukuthi “ They come from the dusty streets of SOWETO”.

Lonke loloshintsho lwenziwe yi African National Congress. Abanamehlo bayabona.

Oxovizwe babhizi babheca abantu ngodaka emehlweni bathi kumnyama kubekukhanya, esikhundleni sokuthi bathi kumnyama ezingqondweni zabo uma bengaluboni ushintsho olulethwe yi ANC kwezokuthutha.

Mphathisihlalo,

I ANC yafica ubugoxogoxo bezitimela, zihamba kancane. kungekho mzila wesitimela oxhuma isikhumulo sezindiza. Namhlanje i Guatrain ishwibeka iyongena esikhumulweni sezindiza i O.R. Tambo ngenxa ka ANC.

Izitimela ezazihamba emakhaya zazithutha izingodo,nomoba namalahle, hayi abantu ngoba phela abantu abamnyama kwakufanele bahambe ngamahhashi nezihlibhi.

Olayini bezitimela kwagcina bengasanakekelwe nezitimela zingasazithuthi izingodo nomoba namalahle sekuthuthwa ngama Truck abulala imigwaqo kakhulukazi lapho kunezimayini zamalahle njengase Mpumalanga.

Yingakho i National Development Plan ikhomba ukuthi kumele kulungiswe imigwaqo yasempumalanga egugiswe amaTruck athutha amalahle ezimayini.

I NDP iphinde ithi akulungiswe imizila yezitimela ezithutha izimpahla kuncishiswe ukuthuthwa kwezimpahla ngamaTruck ukuze kube lula ukuhwebelana kumazwe ase Africa. Kwakhiwe imizila ezoxhuma amadolobha angaxhumene.

Lokho okubalulwa yi NDP kuyafana naloko ukushiwo yi National Transport Master Plan, okuwuhlelo jikelele kwezokuthutha, olwenziwe wumnyango wezokuthutha kuzwelonke.

Mphathisihlalo

Umkhakha wezindiza yiwona owawunobandlululo kakhulu okudlula yonke eminye imikhakha yezokuthutha kulelizwe. Abantu abamnyama babengawashayeli amabhanoyi. Umshayeli wokuqala webhanayi owasebenzela i SAA wu Captain Mpho Mamashele uqashwe yi SAA ngoba sekuphethe i ANC.

Izingane ezizalwe isikhululekile i Ningizimu Africa zingacabanga ukuthi ngixoxa inganekwane uma ngithi:

Mina lo ngenxa yokuthi ngizalwa emaphandleni endaweni yakwa Machi ngangazi ukuthi ibhanoyi ligitshelwa abelungu kuphela.

Asikho ngakithi isikhumulo sezindiza.

Sasiyeka ukudlala siyizingane uma sibona ibhanoyi lindiza phezulu silibuke besesimemeza sithi “HAMBA BHANOYI USIPHATHELE AMASWIDI KOBABA BETHU EGOLI”

Namhlanje kunezikhungo zikanokusho ezakhiwe uw Hulumeni ka ANC.

Kwanetshwa isikhungo i O.R. Tambo, I Cape Town International Airport, Kwakhiwa isikhungo esisha i King Shaka Airport, kwalungiswa izikhungo ezincane. Kumanje kulungisa u Mthatha airport.

I Air Traffic Navigation System yase South Africa isisetshenziswa nangamanye mazwe.

Kwezokuthuthuka kwabesifazane kumkhakha wezindiza i South Africa iyaziqhenya ngenkosazana esencane u Popi Khoza

Maritime

Uma siza kumkhakha wezokuthutha ngamanzi, phecelezi MARITIME, kuvuka uhlevane, kwazise phela umkhumbi ka Jan Van Rebieck owagudla ulwandle lwethu ngo 1652 wasilethela ukuhlupheka.

Okubuhlungu kakhulu kulomkhakha wukudayiswa kwemikhumbi yalelizwe ewu 57 ngo 1993.

Lokho kwabuyisela lelizwe emuva kakhulu kwi Maritime. Namlhanje izimpahla ezingenayo neziphumayo e South Africa zithwalwa yimikhumbi yamanye amazwe. Owethu umsebenzi ukugada ukuphepha kwaleyomikhumbi.

Wudaba lolu ulubaluleke kakhulu okumele lusukunyelwe phezulu. u Deputy Minister kulo kanjalo Nomhlonishwa Duma.

Engifisa ukudlula kuko wukuthi, i ANC yakwazi ukulungiselela ukubusa yaqeqesha abantu bayo kumakhono ahlukene.

Kulomkhakha sino Commander Tsietsi Mokhele ongo CEO we SAMSA onolwazi olunzulu ngeMaritime. Siyameseka kuloluhlelo lokuvuselela lomkhakha. Mphathisihlalo,

i ANC iyameeseka unqonqoshe ohloniphekile u Ben Martins uma uhti lonyaka wunyaka we Maritime, lokhu kuvuselela ugqozi.

iANC iyabonga kwabemboni yamatekisi nabezinkampane zamabhasi ezincane - Small Bus Operators, ngokuthi niqhubeke nithuthu izigidi ngezigidi zabagibeli mihla yonke yize lungekho uxhaso lwabagibeli abasebenzisa ezenu izithuthi.

Sibonga nokuthi anizange nilukhulume budlabha loludaba kodwa nahlala phansi nongqongqoshe nakhuluma kahle naye.

Udaba lwenu SANTACO nihlangene nenhlangano yezinkampane ezincane zamabhasi (Small Bus Operators) neziphakamiso zenhlangano yabagibeli iSouth Africa Commuters Organisation mayelana noxhaso lwabagibeli luyezwakala nathi siyikomidi siyaluxoxa sibonisana nongqongqoshe nomnyango.

Liyezwakala iphuzu lenu uma nithi kuwukubandlula ukuxhasa izinkampane zamabhasi ezinkulu zodwa ngemali yabagibeli, umgibeli ohamba ngetekisi noma ngebhasi lenkampane encane yena angaxhaswa. Sithi nje i ANC iyalalela, izoniphendula.

Siyanizwa futhi uma nithi akulona iqiniso ukuthi imisebenzi kahulumeni yokuthutha inikwe ezinkulu zodwa.

Umnyango usitshele ukuthi angeke asawavuselela ama-contract nezinkampani ezinkulu njengoba kade kwenzeka ngaphamibilini kodwa usuzonithuthukisa nibe ama cooperatives ukuze nikwazi ukuhlomula kuma thenda ezokuthutha kahulumeni.

Abahlale begijimela ezinkantolo beyomangalela uhulumeni bathule bathe tu ngamathenda okuthutha asezimayini nakahulumeni atholwa yizinkampane ezinkule kuphela futhi ahlala evuselelwa ngaphandle kokukhipha i thenda.

Bazothula phela ngoba yizinkampani abazithandayo ezizuzayo. ukube bekungezabamnyama ngabe usumkhulu umsindo.

Siwu ANC kulelikomidi sifisa kube nethikithi elilodwa elisebenza kuzozonke izithuthi okuyi bhasi, itekisi noma isitimela, okubizwa nge single ticket system. Lokhu kokwenza kubelula kubagibeli.

Mphathisihlalo,

Shovakalula Programme

Kunezingane ezihamba amabanga amade kakhulu uma ziya esikoleni. Lezozingane bezifika kade esikoleni zeqiwe yizifundo futhi zikhathala bese zingakwazi ukubamba kahle ezikufundiswayo.

Iningi lalezozingane ziphuma emakhaya ahluphekayo nasemiphakathini empofu futhi engenawo amathuba emisebenzi. Kuhle okwenziwa wunyango wezokuthutha ukusiza lezingane ezihamaba amabanga amade ngokuzipha amabhayisekile.Siyazi ukuthi loluhlelo alukafinyeleli kuzo zonke izingane ezihamba amabanga amade ngezinyawo uma ziya esikoleni. Okunye esikubona kumele kushintshwe kushovakalula wukuthengwa kwamabhayisekile kwamanye amazwe.Lokho kuphambene kakhulu nomgomo kahulumeni weANC wokwakhiwa kwemisebenzi kulelizwe nasezindaweni ezingekathuthuki..

Sifisa ukuwukhumbuza umnyango ukuthi saxoxa ngaloludaba savumelana ngokuthi kwenziwe amasu ukuvulwa kwezimboni ezizokwakha lamabhayisekile. Sacela futhi ukuthi umnyango uzame ukuthi izimboni lezo zakhiwe kwimiphakathi engathuthukile ukuze kwehliswa ubumpofu kuvule namathuba emisebenzi.

Siyethemba ukuthi umnyango uzobuya kungekudala uzosibikela ukuthi usuhambe kangakanani kuloludaba.

Mphathisihlalo Nakuba kukuningi okwenziwa wu Hulumeni ka ANC kwezokuthutha, zikhona izinkinga ezidinga ukulungiswa. Singabalula lezi ezilandelayo:

Ukusetshenziswa kwama consultants kakhulu wumnyango wezokuthuthu kuzwelonke nakuzozonke izgaba zikahulumeni. Sikuxoxile loku nomnyango savumelana ngokuthi kumele kuqiniswe uhlelo lokuqeqesha kwentsha inikezwe amakhono adingwa wunyango wezokuthutha.
Lack of coordination - okwenza kungabinendlela yokubonam kalula uma kunakala. Sithi umnyango awungabi yiposi lokudlulisa imali kodwa awusebenze ukusiza amanye amazinga kahulumeni ukwenza izinhlelo ezifanayo.
Ukusebenzisa i Technology eyakhiwe kwamanye amazwe noma eyakhiwe yizinkampani ezizimele ngaphandle kokuqiniseka ukuthi labo abakhe leyo technology bayaludlulisela ulwazi kuzisebenzi zomnyango. Siyavumelana nomnyango ngokuthi kuzomele umnyango usebenzisane kakhulu nomnyango we Science and Technology, nomenyango yezemfundo, ne CSIR ukwenza uhlelo oluzokwenza ukuthi i Technology edingwa wumnyango wezokuthutha yakhiwe e South Africa.
Ukuthatha isikhathi eside ukubhala i policy. Isibonelo salokhu umnyango usuthathe iminyaka engaphezulu kwemine ubhala i policy ye Scholar Transport ne policy ye Maritime. Sivumelene nomnyango ngokuthi kuzomele kuqiniswe i capacity yomnyango ukuze kusheshe ukubhalwa kwamapolicies.
Yinkinga yeminyango yezifundazwe okungeyona eyezokuthutha kodwa inikezwe imisebenzi eqondene nomnyango wezokuthutha njengo Maritime kwa Zulu.Natal no Roads e Eastern Cape. Sizocela ungqongqoshe akulungise lokho nozakwabo ukuze ikomidi lezokuthutha kwaZulu-Natal likwazi ukwenza umsebenzi walo we oversight onMaritime, nathi futhi sikwazi ukuxhumana nalo.
Siyawubona umnyango wezokuthutha uyasebenza i ANC yathatha umbuso kumapeketwane sekuyabonakala manje ukuthi kuyiwaphi. Inde indlela esiyihambayo,

I ANC iyayeseka i Budget yezokuthutha.

Ngiyabonga.
 

Ian Ollis, Shadow Minister of Transport 

Highlights:
I support the Transport Minister in recognising the need to shut down the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). It needs to be replaced with a provincially managed and properly trained traffic police force;
Government wasted the fuel levy money and now require tolls to afford the roads;
Metrorail is leaving hundreds of trains switched on all night with engines running, lights on in all carriages and in some cases heaters switched on heating empty trains all night;
Congratulations to Western Cape Minister of Transport, Robin Carlisle, on the excellent record of reducing the road death rate by a whopping 31%, since the DA took office;
Tens of thousands of fake Roadworthy Certificates are being issued by vehicle testing centres, particularly in Gauteng.

Apartheid really did leave South Africa with a severe backlog in education, housing, job opportunities, and a spatial framework that institutionalised racial divides in geographic planning and infrastructure roll out. This left South Africans in 1994 very divided and many without the means to take advantage of the limited opportunities available.  An ageing and inadequate transport system was no match for the herculean task of turning an apartheid South Africa into a modern economy, capable of producing jobs and opportunities for all.

Transportation is potentially one of the great vehicles available to us, as legislators, and government, to bring people closer together, bearing in mind the spatial divide, and provide greater access to these opportunities.

Strides have been made in that direction. We have award winning new airports, and the decision to purchase new rolling stock for Metrorail and replace the signalling system with new technology, will undoubtedly improve the speed and reliability of trains. This massive infrastructure project will also create jobs and lead to a much needed skills transfer. 

A further bonus is that the unit cost at R9 million per coach will be cheaper than the R10 million for Gautrain coaches. The DA will be carefully watching the rollout of this tender however, as we cannot afford yet another Arms Deal debacle. The South African taxpayer cannot pay for undue “donations” to the politically connected, being ripped off for another Mercedes 4x4, or a saucy deal for Chancellor House. 

I must support the Transport Minister in so early on recognising the need to shut down the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and voting with the Board of Shareholders to close this entity, which has been unable to deal with our tragic road death rate. It needs to be replaced with a provincially managed and properly trained traffic police force. The minister must be congratulated for seeing the problem early in his term of office as people’s lives are on the line.

Let me now turn to the bad.  Government’s funding models are hopelessly wrong on a number of key infrastructure investments. 

The E-toll is the obvious one. The South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) misleads us by stating that the road maintenance backlog is about R149 billion, which means that we have to have many new toll roads across the country. Unfortunately for the argument, the maths doesn’t add up. 

I have previously referred to the studies by the Automobile Association (AA), and the Southern African Bitumen Association (SABITA), but if you look at the annual budget documents supplied by Treasury and the annual audits supplied by the Auditor General, you can clearly see that between 2003 and 2008, an average of more than R21 billion was brought in from the fuel levy, while only an average of R7.4 billion was spent on the roads! 

That leaves R14 billion wasted by this government on other projects. If you approximate R14 billion per annum from 1994, until around 2010, that gives an approximate R238 billion of fuel levy money misused by this government. We only need R149 billion to cater for the road maintenance backlog. Government spent the money and now pretends that we have to pay tolls to afford our roads.

Further to this, I notice that the Western Cape Government has repaired and maintained their section of the Bloukrans Pass alternative route on the N2 toll road, as any good DA government does. As usual the Eastern Cape Department is unable to repair their portion of this road for many, many, months leading to it remaining closed. Is this government trying to force motorists to use toll roads and pay fees by just allowing the alternative routes to collapse? 

Today I can reveal another crisis: while Eskom is begging everyone to switch off their heaters, and geysers, Metrorail is leaving several hundred of trains switched on all night with motors running, lights on in all carriages and in some cases even the heaters are switched on, heating empty trains all night. When I heard of this shocking waste, I did what Helen Suzman always told me to do - I went to see for myself. 

Here I have a photograph of all the lights of Metrorail trains burning at 10:30pm on Friday, 24 May 2013, long after the train drivers had gone home. At the Elandsfontein Station all six trains parked there had all their motors running and lights on all night. While people are shivering in their homes this winter with load shedding in Gauteng, they can rest safe in the knowledge that just down the road at the local train depot are hundreds of train carriages piping hot inside ready for nobody. Minister, I am sure Eskom is watching this television broadcast and reaching for the phone to dial your number. 

I have met with Metrorail staff who tell me that trains are kept running 24 hours a day with lights and heaters on because maintenance is so bad that if they switch trains off, they cannot get them to start in the morning. We need an urgent investigation into how much money and electricity is being wasted by this poor maintenance.

We also have a serious vandalism problem. When the transformer for the lights on the R21 Highway in Gauteng has been stolen 3 times, one realises how bad crime is! You need a crane and a flatbed truck to remove these electrical transformers. Trains are being vandalised in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape because hundreds of kilometres of walling and fencing has been broken down. Members of Parliament just need to look at the missing fence outside the Acacia Park parliamentary village to see the problem. There is simply not enough money in this budget for walling, fencing and security measures for our transport infrastructure. 

What really concerns me about the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) however, is that it appears that the management are colluding with the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) to keep the National Transport Movement (NTM) from being recognised, by delaying a proper audit of SATAWU, NTM and other unions to establish which members are actually signed up to which union. 

Prasa has instead fired 1027 staff, all of whom belong to NTM. The firings appear to be unfair dismissals designed to prevent NTM from reaching the threshold required for recognition. Allegations have been made by Prasa against NTM regarding the burning of trains, but without evidence being produced. 

Government should play fair with new unions instead of always protecting and covering up for Cosatu. It has been reported to me that Metrorail and Prasa are refusing to cancel monthly deductions from staff in favour of Satawu when they resign in writing from Satawu. This amounts to an employer and a union colluding to keep newcomers out. It is morally and legally wrong!

But of course my inspections, research, and meetings with unions are just an ordinary Member of Parliament’s job.

The Department of Transport, however, does not seem to believe in accurate research.

The road death figures are notoriously unreliable. The Road Traffic Management Corporation figures show that we have about 14 000 road deaths annually, however the figures from the National Institute of Mortality Studies (NIMMS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), together with research from the United Nations (UN), show that the RTMC figures are completely wrong.

The MRC draft report produced for the Health Department on bodies piling up in our morgues shows how. I quote: “The Road Traffic Management Corporation estimated that there were 13 768 road deaths in 2009, whereas (this) survey estimated 17 103 road deaths.”

That represents a whopping 3 335 dead people that nobody at the RTMC knows about. The Department of Transport just shrugs and says that their figures are supplied by the police. After speaking personally to a number of paramedics and medical professionals, I believe that the reasons for the RTMC figures being so grossly wrong is that the police apparently only record deaths at the scene. If someone dies in an ambulance or in hospital later, those figures are not captured. But if we can’t get the figures right, how do we expect our deployment of traffic police, drunk driving or roadworthy inspections to be right?

I must congratulate the Western Cape Minister, Robin Carlisle, and the Western Cape Traffic Department on their excellent record of reducing the road death rate by a whopping 31%, since the DA took office. Deaths reduced from 1 739 per annum in 2008 to an annualised 1 202 by February 2013. This is as a result of using accurate data and getting rid of drunk driving and unroadworthy vehicles. Ask Western Cape bus drivers if you don’t believe it.

And now my final revelation of gross corruption. This report tabled today is a report into the massive Roadworthy Certificate fraud in South Africa. It was commissioned by the Honourable S’bu Ndebele, former Minister of Transport, and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport.

A private company, AST Africa, was appointed to conduct an investigation and they produced a report with photographic evidence, copies of fake documentation, and studies of individual test stations, and concluded that many tens of thousands of fake Roadworthy Certificates are being issued by vehicle testing centres, particularly in Gauteng.

On payment of about R1 500, fake roadworthy certificates are being issued, without the vehicle even being presented for inspection. At one testing station in Gauteng, the report states that if this station “operated 9 hours a day continuously during this period, including Saturdays, Sundays and Public holidays, they would have to test a car every 6 minutes to achieve” the 12 212 certificates issued. Of these, 5 740 were vehicles from KwaZulu-Natal. One operator brazenly advertised in the newspaper “Can organise certificate of roadworthiness without the vehicle. Phone or SMS if interested R1 300 in Stanger.”

Surveillance was conducted, the Hawks were called in according to the report, and a National Fraud Task Team was formed with the National Department of Transport and a few arrests were made. The “trap” vehicle pictured here in the report, which is clearly a burned out wreck, was given a certificate of roadworthiness and a legal weigh bridge certificate issued by a centre which is still operating in Gauteng. It’s on the eNatis system.

Now here is the question, Minister: Why, after only a few arrests, were AST’s investigation cancelled, the National Task Team shut down and this report covered up? 

Many of these testing centres continue to operate and tens of thousands of vehicles are on our roads right now with fake roadworthy certificates.

Your death statistics are wrong, the RTMC has not worked and many coffins on wheels are out there with drunk drivers and fake roadworthy certificates and the department is turning a blind eye. What will you say to the mothers of those who have died on our roads?
 

Vote 37 - Transport Budget Vote Debate 
by Hon PK Sithole, MP

 

28 May 2013
 
Honourable Speaker
 
I am not a member of the committee, I am an alternative member. I will start by saying that the IFP supports the vote.
 
This support, however, comes with concerns that still need the department's attention. The first of which is to do with the Gauteng E-tolling saga, where SANRAL and the transport department insist on going ahead with it, despite continued massive public outcry, from Cosatu organising protests, to the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance group taking the department to court. The minister's statements in the NCOP implied that tolling was the only way to pay for road development; this shows either a lack of research on his part or a deliberate move to ignore the concerns of the general public.
 
With no proper public engagement done on the issue, it is concerning that the department is determined to push through with e-tolling without listening to the will of the people. E-tolls cannot be expected to succeed while such massive opposition to it still exists.
 
The department needs to improve the level of service that is provided to the people but not at the expense of the very people they serve. The roads can and should be maintained with the current funds from the department and not by overburdening the population with additional tax for using public roads.
 
Bathiniabaholibaka Cosatune SACP abakulendlu? Bathiabaholibaka ANC abasuka e Gauteng abakulendlubasakhulumaulimulwabantubase Gautengnomaolwabo? Abantu abayifunii E-toll, phansingayo
 
As the department continues to fight our people when it comes to e-tolls, potholes seem to be ignored and allowed to worsen around the country. Whenever potholes are reported, when the department eventually decides to fix them, concrete is sometimes used as a temporary solution, which only makes things worse over time. Vehicles are damaged because of them and even serious, and sometimes fatal, accidents are caused by potholes. If the department put a sincere effort in fixing the roads properly, we would see massive reduction in accidents and vehicle damage.
 
The department continues to subsidise big bus companies at the expense of small companies that find it difficult to compete with the big companies. The smaller companies struggle to even get government contracts because these are normally allocated to the larger companies, undercutting the ability of the smaller business owner to expand and contribute to the growth of the economy and transportation of the country. Any further investment in the transport sector must include the smaller industry players, so as to encourage a robust and healthy competitive environment for all stakeholders.
 
The taxi recapitalisation programme on the one hand can be hailed as a success, as many taxis that were not roadworthy were removed off our roads. However, the lack of proper financial management of the programme's budget means that more money was spent acquiring the taxis and very little, if any, was recovered from selling the many parts of the taxi for recycling.
 
Some aspects of the recapitalisation process have caused tensions within the taxi industry, with violence erupting in many places, mainly due to the fact that taxi drivers and owners are not willing to embrace change. The attempt to incorporate taxis into the changing mainstream transport system has always brought about friction and as much as there has been progress in the formalisation of the taxi industry, there is still resistance in many areas.
 
One of the other main contentions within the taxi industry is with the issuing of licences. Because of the major backlog in the issuing of these licences and a large portion of the taxi drivers in the country do not have licences to operate them, so they drive them illegally. This results in a situation where the taxi drivers try to earn an income to provide for their families, but fall foul of the law because they do not have an operating licence. The department needs to re-look at the current licensing system and try to streamline the process as much as possible, because the taxi industry is an essential part of the public transport system.
 
In its legitimate attempt to improve the country's roads, the department must work with the people, not antagonise them, to improve our roads and reduce fatalities. Because transport is such a major part of our country's lifeblood, all major stakeholders must be involved in its advancement and not overlooked by a department that desires to have its way no matter the cost. The department is there to serve the people - the people are not there to serve the department; if they are not listened to, no good will come of the plans that the department has to improve our transport system.
 
I Thank You


 

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