Chairperson, hon Minister of Transport, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me start by commending the Minister of Transport, hon S'bu Ndebele, for setting clear targets and outcomes for the Department of Transport. These targets and outcomes are in line with the policies of the ANC and the service-delivery priorities of the ANC government. They are aimed at speeding up the process of service delivery.
On 19 and 20 March 2010 the Portfolio Committee on Transport held a workshop with the Department of Transport and all transport agencies. The purpose of this workshop was to assess the relevance of the strategic plan of the Department of Transport to the transformation needs and government service-delivery priorities. We also checked the congruence between the strategic plans of the transport agencies and that of the Department of Transport, as well as the allocation of financial resources and personnel in specific programmes.
We proudly stand here today, confirming to Parliament and the people of South Africa that the Director-General of the Department of Transport, Mr George Mahlalela, and chief executive officers of all transport agencies, presented to the Portfolio Committee on Transport relevant strategic plans that are also aligned to each other. We have no doubt in our minds that the strategic plans presented will contribute positively to the improvement of the social and economic standards of all communities in our country.
We have noted that although the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency, CBTRA, is mandated to control road transport in and out of South Africa, it operates only from an office in Pretoria and has no presence South African's borders. This situation may pose a challenge to traffic control at our borders as well as the use of road transport to smuggle drugs and fake products in and out of South Africa.
We are concerned that the department is not providing the necessary support in nurturing and building the capacity of this agency to a point where it is able to deliver on its mandate. We therefore urge the Department of Transport to assist these agencies in capacity building and fulfilment of their mandate.
Another agency that has challenges is the Road Traffic Management Corporation, RTMC. We appreciate the steps taken by the board and the Minister to improve the situation in the RTMC. We will monitor the progress and assess the level of improvement. We will also give support where necessary.
Chairperson and hon members, there are 11 transport agencies mandated to manage specific sectors within transport. The majority of transport agencies have fulfilled their mandates.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa, is excelling in improving the rail infrastructure, rail transport and bus services. The approach used by Prasa will result in integrated public services as well as the reduced cost and time of travelling, which is currently a big challenge in South Africa. Our trains are safer than before. We pledge our full support to Prasa and appreciate the visionary leadership provided by the board members and the chief executive officer, Mr Lucky Montana. We are confident that Prasa will provide excellent services during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
The South African National Road Agency Limited, Sanral, is one agency that has delivered on its mandate. Sanral has managed to retain adequate engineering skills that enable Sanral to provide an excellent national road infrastructure. Such skills are scarce at local government level, yet critical for the provision, upgrading and maintenance of road infrastructure.
Another challenge at local government level is the lack of financial capacity in dealing with the transport infrastructure. This situation is made worse by ratepayers' associations that are not paying rates to the municipality and have instead opened trust accounts and keep the rates money in their trust accounts.
The ANC supports the view of Minister S'bu Ndebele in establishing a road infrastructure maintenance fund. We believe that such a fund will contribute positively in dealing with issues of potholes, road maintenance, skills development and local economic development.
Chairperson, the Road Accident Fund, RAF, is in the process of turning around to operate in the context of social security. The aim of this approach is to make the services provided by the RAF easily accessible to the victims of road accidents and also enable the RAF to become financially sustainable. The ANC believes that the services provided by the RAF need to improve and therefore supports the turnaround strategy of the RAF, presented to the portfolio committee during the workshop.
Chairperson, the ANC government is committed to the broad-based black economic empowerment policy and the Co-operatives Act.
We commend Minister S'bu Ndebele for committing himself and the Department of Transport to supporting the transformation of the taxi industry that will result in the participation of the taxi industry in the mainstream of the economy. We believe that the taxi industry has the financial capacity required to invest in other modes of transport. The taxi industry has the potential of diversifying its business to invest in other sectors. That, however, could be achieved when the government works together with the taxi industry to give it the necessary back-up support needed to further develop the taxi industry.
The taxi industry is a true broad-based black economic empowerment sector that should participate in the mainstream of the economy. We are proud of the contribution of the taxi industry in transporting our communities.
We commend the taxi industry for creating hundred of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly. It is encouraging that the taxi industry is beginning to determine its future. Members of the taxi associations are now becoming masters of their own destiny. We believe that challenges confronting the taxi industry can be resolved. We have full confidence in comrade S'bu Ndebele that he will provide the required support and guidance to the taxi industry.
Chairperson, the Portfolio Committee on Transport has engaged with the taxi industry and the host cities of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. These engagements were aimed at assessing the levels of participation of the taxi industry in 2010. They are involved in transporting fans during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, as well as issuing of permits by Operating Licensing Boards. The majority of the host cities have developed transport plans that include the taxi industry in transporting fans from park-and-ride sites.
The taxi industry is one black economic empowerment sector that will benefit more from the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. Taxis that will not transport fans from park-and-ride sites will transport fans from different cities to the host cities. The Fifa Soccer World Cup will bring additional income to the taxi industry, as almost all games will be played late in the afternoon or at night.
Chairperson, the committee on transport adopted the report of the strategic plan and the budget of the Department of Transport in a meeting held yesterday, 12 April 2010.
In conclusion, we thank the Deputy Minister of Transport, hon Jeremy Cronin, the officials of the Department of Transport, and transport agencies for their commitment to the transformation of the transport sector. The ANC supports the Budget Vote of the Department of the Transport. I thank you. [Applause.]