NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO 853
Mr M S F De Freitas (DA) to ask the Minister of Transport:
(a) What deficiencies have been identified in the Shova Kalula Bicycle
Project and (b) what is being done to rectify the deficiencies in each
case? NW941E
REPLY
a) The following are deficiencies that have been identified in the Shova
Kalula Project:
i) Financial support not sufficient for mass rollout of the project;
ii) Poor prioritisation by provinces and municipalities;
iii) Inadequate monitoring of the programme by provinces;
iv) Lack of local manufacturing capacity for bicycles; and
v) Bicycle maintenance / repair shops are not sustainable.
b) Having considered the impacts of the Shova Kalula project, the
Department will be putting necessary measures in place to ensure that
the project to be aligned to the national priorities and action plans
in terms of infrastructure programmes and public transport services.
The alignment will ensure that there is an improving impact and
sustainability of the project.
In order to make an impact, there is a need to increase the number of
bicycles significantly. In this regard, the Department is working with
provinces to develop NMT master plans which will guide the
implementation of the Shova Kalula bicycles project in the short,
medium and long term. This focused delivery plan shall concentrate on
increasing the ridership in district municipalities to at least 100
bicycles to create job opportunities for bicycle maintenance shops and
sustain small businesses. This will come with added advantages of
attracting the requisite NMT infrastructure and associated social
benefits of the programme.
In addition the NMT plans will be used to coordinate various funding
and be aligned to municipal transport plans and projects. The
department is facilitating the signing of MOU with the provinces and
schools that benefit on the Shova Kalula bicycle project to
participate in the monitoring of bicycles allocated to their learners.
Furthermore the Department will be exploring possibilities of entering
into Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with other role players
including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and private sector
that are currently involved in bicycling activities to meet socio-
economic needs. This partnership shall strengthen the capacity to
deliver and manage the whole project.