Chairperson, it is my pleasure to participate in the debate today of the Department of Transport. As we all know, it is one of the departments that is the backbone of ensuring that people are able to be moved from one corner of South Africa to the other, especially those of you who do touch base in Gauteng. Kuyasheshwa kusheshwa ... [Things are going fast ...]
I will provide an overview of the strategic approach adopted by our department in response to our premier's call for the modernisation of public transport infrastructure.
The Minister has already alluded to the outcome of the National Household Travel Survey, NHTS. I won't go into it, but I can touch briefly on the fact that, of the 42 million people she was referring to, 25% of them all who travel in the country on any single day do so in our province, Gauteng.
Of the 3,7 million taxi trips that are made on a daily basis to work, 1,4 million - almost 40% - happen in Gauteng. One in 10 commuters believe that taxis are too expensive in Gauteng. President of Santaco, Ntate Taaibosch, I hope you will resolve that. Ningathi ipetrol iyadura. [Don't say the petrol is expensive.]
The survey also highlights our people's desire for a reliable, affordable, safe and accessible public transport system. If you truly profess to be a responsive and caring government, then the ANC government must address the heartfelt needs of our people.
For us to realise the goals set out by our Gauteng provincial government, we will have to do three things: Firstly, we have to draw the central links between transport infrastructure, reindustrialisation of our economy, local beneficiation and procurement of South African manufactured goods and the creation of jobs.
Secondly, as Gauteng is the economy that produces 34% of our country's GDP, this province will continue to be the place where more people will want to live and make a living. That means that the patterns of immigration to Gauteng and consequent increase in population identified in the 25-year integrated transport master plan will become a reality. This reality demands that we plan consciously for such a future and better utilise the limited space that we possess.
Thirdly, from a transport perspective, we will have to plan for a larger formal workforce, which will mean a greater number of home-to-work trips during peak hours. Certainly, this will put our road and public transport network under further pressure, which means that we must expand our public transport system and radically change the travel patterns of our people through a modal shift from private vehicle usage to public transport.
In order to better meet these objective challenges and to plan differently for our province, it is anticipated that, over time, the Gauteng transport commission's first train will be tested in November of 2015. This Metrorail revitalisation programme will create over 8 000 direct jobs at the Dunottar plant ... [Applause.] ... an additional 33 000 jobs will be created in the wider transport sector. This bold programme will help to revitalise our ailing rail engineering industry, transfer technology to South Africans and create economic opportunities. These developments show that our dream of making rail the backbone of our future transport system is gradually, but systematically, becoming a reality.
The department has the responsibility to co-ordinate the development of the 25-year aerotropolis master plan ...
i-aerotropolis yeyama-aeroplane. Ningacabangi enye into ... [The "aerotropolis" is for "aeroplane"; Don't think otherwise ...] ... and a five-year implementation plan. The aim of developing an airport city is to enable the Ekurhuleni Municipality to unlock the economic potential of that region. The five-year implementation plan has been completed and is in the process of being approved by the municipality. So, hopefully, Minister, you will see a difference in Gauteng.
The ANC government welcomes the positive reactions by organs of civil society to the Gauteng premier's establishment of a panel to assess the socioeconomic impact of the e-tolls on people and on the economy of Gauteng, and to propose resolutions to that.
As far as on this matter is concerned, it must be understood that an agreement has been reached between our premier and the Minister of Transport on the terms of reference of this panel. There is also coherence between the national and provincial governments on the Minister's recent announcement during her budget speech in the NA. The panel will also shortly announce its work programme and consultative processes will take place.
The Gauteng department of roads and transport will continue with its own road maintenance and construction programme along all our arterial roads, such as the R55, which I said the member should use next time he is in Gauteng, and the R82. The upgrading of William Nicol Drive is scheduled to be completed by November this year. This will be a triple carriageway with fully developed pedestrian and cycle lanes and enhanced safety measures. Reducing our carbon footprint, particularly emanating from the transport sector, is a commitment that we need to take very seriously. Based on this promise, the department is in the process of finalising a sustainable green transport policy, which will be completed by the end of this year. We are further encouraging our Gauteng residents to use bicycles when they are travelling on our roads. We are also busy developing the cycle lanes in Gauteng in order to encourage the people of Gauteng to live healthy lifestyles.
Bashove kalula msebenzi! [The work must be easier!]
The Minister has already alluded to the Rea Vaya and the A re Yeng in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni and ... izobizwa ... [It must be mentioned ...] ... hoping it will make sure that it does take care of all those people who are travelling in Gauteng. We all heard the Minister mention the Passenger Rail Agency of SA's renewal programme. I need not repeat it. Zonke lezi zinto zenzeka e-Gauteng. [All these things are happening in Gauteng.] Chairperson of the NCOP, as you know, everything starts in Gauteng and the rest of the country catches the cold.
In conclusion, road safety ... Interjections.] ... hhayi ngisayiphethe kahle! [... I am still doing well!]
Road safety is an important campaign that must be taken very seriously. Many children are orphaned today because their parents have perished on our roads. Many children live in child-headed households because either the father or the mother died while trying to get to work. It is important that road safety education starts targeting very young children, especially at early childhood development level.
NgesiZulu siyaye sithi ugotshwa usemanzi ... In isiZulu we say that you teach your children while they are still young ... so that if you start inculcating road safety education among younger children, then we will see better citizens in our country. Thank you. [Applause.]