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TUESDAY, 15 JULY 2014
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PROCEEDINGS OF EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMITTEE – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
____
Members of the Extended Public Committee met in the Old Assembly
Chamber at 19:14.
House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick, as Chairperson, took the Chair and
requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or
meditation.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 37 – Transport
The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Hon Chairperson, Deputy Minister of
Transport, hon Sindisiwe Chikunga; the hon chairperson of the
committee, Me Dikeledi Magadzi; hon members of the Transport
portfolio committee, hon members of Parliament present,
distinguished guests and stakeholders, ladies and gentlemen, it is
an honour and privilege for me to stand before you to present the
Department of Transport Budget Vote for the 2014-15 financial year.
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The budget policy statement is essentially both a blueprint and a
commitment of what the ANC government, through the Department of
Transport, seeks to achieve in its quest to deliver on the mandate
of an efficient, safe, reliable and affordable transport service for
the people of South Africa. The Deputy Minister and I have received
a fresh mandate to lead the Department of Transport over the next
five years and we are well aware of the expectations and aspirations
of our people. We affirm the President’s statement in his
inauguration speech, when he said:
We accept the mandate bestowed on us by millions of our people to
lead this great nation for the next five years.
We both expect that the public servants employed by the Department
of Transport and its entities will deliver on government’s
commitments to the people of South Africa.
This 2014-15 Budget Vote presentation takes place during a period in
which we have the 20-year celebration of our democracy and the
milestones reached. It is also the first parliamentary session since
the dawn of democracy that takes place without our stalwart and the
founding father of our freedom, former President Nelson Mandela. On
the occasion of his inauguration as South Africa’s first democratic
President, Madiba said:
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We are both humbled and elevated by the honour and privilege that
you, the people of South Africa, have bestowed on us, as the
first President of a united, democratic, nonracial and nonsexist
South Africa, to lead the country out of the valley of darkness.
We are therefore humbled to report that, 20 years later, South
Africa is indeed a different and a better place to live in.
The lives of millions of our people have changed for the better.
They now have access to better basic services than they had before
1994. We make these bold statements without fear of contradiction
because the progress made under the ANC government is there for all
to see. President Zuma is correct in his assertion that:
South Africa is a much better place to live in than before 1994,
due to the transformative policies of our democratic government.
Policies and legislation under this nonracial, nonsexist democratic
government have resulted in the delivery of transport services to
the people of South Africa. Among some of the achievements, I count
the following milestones: Here in the Western Cape, we have the
MyCiTi bus rapid transit system in Cape Town; the revamped Cape Town
train station; the Nyanga Junction and the upgraded Cape Town
International Airport.
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In Gauteng we have introduced the Rea Vaya and the A Re Yeng Bus
rapid transit systems in Johannesburg and Tshwane respectively. We
have radically transformed the old Jan Smuts Airport into the new
O R Tambo International Airport. [Applause.] We have the rapid
transport system covering the three metros. We have introduced the
Gauteng improvement programme to improve the freeway network.
In KwaZulu-Natal, we built a brand-new King Shaka International
Airport, as well as the Bridge City multimodal public transport
facility to create a nucleus for a multisectoral approach. We have
also revamped nine other airports, such as Mangaung, Mthatha, Port
Elizabeth and others.
The people of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality in the
Eastern Cape are set to enjoy basic rapid transport services soon as
we move towards finalising the Libhongolethu bus service.
Furthermore, BRT systems are coming to eThekwini, Rustenburg,
Polokwane, Nelspruit and George. We also have the introduction of
the new rolling stock programme, aimed at improving passenger rail
transport, and the introduction of South Africa’s first training
ship, the SA Agulhas.
We have maintained a good domestic and international aviation safety
record and in recognition of South Africa’s aviation infrastructure
capacity, the Airports Company Ltd of South Africa, ACSA, was
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appointed to do major upgrades to international airports at São
Paulo in Brazil and Mumbai in India. [Applause.]
The taxi industry continues to be a key pillar of support in the
public transport sphere. The industry contributes about R40 billion
to the national economy each year and accounts for 300 000 direct
and indirect jobs.
While the above-mentioned successes are noteworthy and should be
celebrated by many, there are many people who remain on the margins
of the impeccable delivery track record we have achieved. We know
that many of our people still do not have access to transport
infrastructure and services such as access roads and bridges, as
well as safe and reliable public transport. We know of educators and
learners in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo who
have to cross dangerous streams and rivers to make it to school.
There are communities in South African where learners are prevented
from going to school due to a lack of access to road infrastructure.
We are aware of women who have to give birth at home simply because
they cannot access health facilities on time due to bad road
conditions. We have heard of constant train delays and dysfunctional
signalling systems, mainly in certain parts of the Western Cape and
Gauteng, resulting in commuters arriving late at their destinations.
We are aware of gross inefficiency and acts of corruption in some of
our vehicle and drivers licence testing stations. To address these
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challenges, the Deputy Minister and I have thrown down the gauntlet
to the public servants employed by the Department of Transport and
its entities. We have requested them to put the interests and
aspirations of their employers - the taxpayers - ahead of their own.
We continue to challenge them to make a commitment to do something
that will improve a life each day as they walk into their place of
work.
South Africa has a total road network of at least 750 000 km. While
some of the roads, particularly those in urban areas, are in a good
condition and are maintained regularly, we cannot say the same of
roads in other parts of our country, more so in the rural areas. We
have looked at various means of achieving a sustainable programme
that would see us paying regular attention to the state of our
roads.
I am pleased to announce that through the provincial roads
maintenance grant, otherwise known as S’hamba Sonke, we will
undertake road maintenance programmes where provinces will repair
damaged roads periodically.
The S’hamba Sonke roads programme will seek to achieve the
following: 60% of employment and empowerment in road infrastructure
to previously disadvantaged communities; 40% to be allocated to the
Operation Tselantle programme, which is intended to eradicate
potholes; 50% of the EPWP infrastructure and job creation targets to
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be met through S’hamba Sonke. We are very much alive to the concerns
raised by the portfolio committee regarding capacity in
municipalities and provinces. Through this programme, we currently
have more than 120 civil-engineering graduates who are being trained
and will later be absorbed into municipalities. [Applause.]
During the 2013-14 financial year, our national roads agency,
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
nontoll roads.
The SA National Roads Agency spent a total of R1,8 billion on
contracts with SMMEs, of which more than R1,2 billion went to blackowned firms for both toll and nontoll roads. The budget allocation
for Sanral for 2014-15 is R3,45 billion for current operations and
R7,43 billion for capital infrastructure.
South Africa’s world-class road agency continues to provide
technical support to provinces with regard to the maintenance of
roads. Sanral recently inherited several thousand kilometres of road
from provinces. And independent research indicates that Sanral
continues to build the best roads in the world. [Applause.]
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It is important to note that of the almost 19 700 km of road under
Sanral, only 3 100 kilometres is tolled, and 201 km is part of the
Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan. We continue to conduct reviews of
the progress being made and the challenges experienced since the
introduction of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project and
electronic tolling in Gauteng.
Through these regular reviews, we have been able to introduce
certain relief measures to lessen the burden on users. These include
exemptions for public transport, medical services and people living
with disabilities and those who apply for exemption and qualify in
terms of the criterion set. Sanral has been able to introduce a
payment amnesty regime informed by the reviews in March this year.
In response to the call by the President of the Republic of SA, His
Excellency President Jacob Zuma, earlier this year to address
electronic payment billing challenges in Gauteng and make it easier
for people to comply, I wish to announce that we have come to the
following reprieve for affected motorists in the following
categories: There has been a further extension of the payment period
to avoid the Violation Processing Centre process that would
negatively affect vehicle owners. Users will have an extended
payment period of 51 days from the day they pass through the gantry,
as opposed to the seven days. They will also receive the time-of-day
discount. A nonregistered user will receive 60% off the alternative
tariff if they pay within 51 days.
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For registered users, we will introduce the following reprieves: 48%
e-tag holder discount, time-of-day discounts, frequent-user
discounts and the R450 calendar month cap for class A2 or light
vehicles. We trust that these concessions will go some way to lessen
the financial burden on the part of users. [Applause.]
In 1995, the ANC government under President Mandela introduced the
Masakhane Campaign to inculcate the principle of users taking
responsibility for infrastructure development and payment of
services as part of the implementation of the Reconstruction and
Development Programme. President Mandela said:
We all have the responsibility to pay for what we use, or else
the investment will dry up and the projects come to an end. We
must ensure that we can, as a nation, provide for the millions
still without the basic needs.
Today, we can proudly say that the NDP has identified transport
infrastructure as a key economic driver. As outlined in the NDP, the
user-pays principle remains the policy of this government and no
review of neither the policy nor the legislation governing urban
tolling or any other tolling has been undertaken by this government.
Government continues to explore partnerships through which we can
secure funding to reverse the current infrastructure backlog. Our
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partners, existing and potential, can only do business with us if we
are certain about our policy objectives.
We urge the users of the tolled Gauteng road network to continue
contributing towards the building of a better South Africa with the
necessary world-class infrastructure required to move our country
forward. To them we say that we are grateful for their co-operation
and we encourage those who are still not registered for electronic
payment to do so. [Applause.]
This includes members of this House and our guests in the gallery,
your families, friends, including acquaintances and neighbours. It
is our responsibility as a collective of law-makers to make sure
that we encourage South Africans to be responsible for what they
would want to have.
In our quest to ensure a sustained, co-ordinated approach to the
battle against road carnage, the department has embarked on a 365day road safety programme. We have in the past couple of months
moved swiftly to stabilise the lead agency, the Road Traffic
Management Corporation, by appointing a full-time board and a CEO,
following several months of instability at leadership level.
The RTMC, along with the Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research and Statistics SA are developing a road injury and
fatalities data collection tool. We are also in the process of
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establishing a national Road Safety Advisory Council, which will
advise the RTMC shareholder committee, constituting the Minister,
the nine MECs and Salga, on the mammoth challenge of road safety.
This approach would ensure that we pool all available resources in
all the sectors towards a comprehensive national social behavioural
change campaign. The RTMC will continue to implement the 365 days of
road safety programme aligned with the UN Decade of Action for Road
Safety Global Campaign.
We are currently working on the introduction of the Road Accident
Benefit Scheme Bill, which would see the RAF moving away from how it
currently handles and manages claims. The Road Accident Benefit
Scheme Bill seeks to do away with the fault-based claim approach and
introduce a no-fault-based policy.
Through the current RAF On the Road community outreach programme,
government continues to take services to the people. We are pleased
to report that this campaign has since its inception reached over
23 000 claimants and paid out over R260 million in benefits. We are
of the view that road carnage is a societal pandemic akin to
HIV/Aids and we require a multidisciplinary approach to stem the
tide. We applaud the role played by the faith-based structures in
collaboration with our roads agencies to give a human face to the
deaths on the roads.
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We will continue to support our country’s efforts in ensuring a
seamless trading environment and regional integration with our
neighbouring countries and Africa at large. Our agency, the Cross
Border Road Transport Agency, continues to play a key role in
reducing cross-border transport constraints that hinder the free
flow of people and goods over our borders.
Our expenditure over the medium term will be aimed at attaining an
efficient, competitive and responsive infrastructure network, which
is part of outcome six of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework 201419. Our approach is also to support the implementation of the NDP’s
priorities of maintaining road infrastructure, upgrading rail
infrastructure and services, and building and operating public
transportation infrastructure for our people.
Our budget allocation for the 2014-15 financial year is
R48,7 billion. This includes allocations to provinces,
municipalities, state-owned companies and agencies. Of the allocated
amount, R46,9 billion goes to transfers. We transfer R20,1 billion
to provinces and municipalities, which comes to about 41,3% of the
total budget. We transfer R14,9 billion to public corporations and
private enterprises, which comes to about 25% of our budget. We
transfer R12,2 billion to agencies, which comes to about 30,6%; the
remainder being the department’s goods and services and compensation
to employees, at about 2,96%.
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The ANC government inherited ageing rolling stock, outdated
signalling technology and dilapidated railway stations, which were
the characteristics of an unreliable and unsafe commuter rail
transport service. Since 1994, we have made significant strides in
modernising the railway infrastructure and services. We have built,
upgraded and refurbished more than 50 universally accessible
stations, as well as some 2 600 modern coaches. In the process, some
3 000 direct and indirect jobs have been created. Further investment
is required, however. [Applause.]
The Department of Transport, together with Prasa and the National
Treasury, concluded the procurement process for the new rolling
stock programme of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA and the agreement
of Prasa with Gibela Rail Transportation. In August 2013, Prasa
appointed the preferred broad-based black economic empowerment
participants in the new rolling stock renewal programme, 17% of
Prasa’s renewal project has been committed to the BBBEE
participants.
The Gibela consortium will supply 198 new vehicles over the next
three years and 3 600 new vehicles over the next 10 years. The first
modern set of trains is expected to hit our tracks in 2015. Further
outcomes to be derived from this programme include the new coachbuilding and locomotive assembly plant being established in Nigel in
the Gauteng province. Through 65% localisation we will realise the
creation of 33 000 direct and indirect jobs. We will also realise
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training of 19 000 technicians, artisans, engineers and train
drivers. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Minister, you have two
minutes to conclude your speech.
The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: National government embarked on a
feasibility study on the infamous R573 Moloto Road and I am pleased
to announce that an integrated rapid rail option solution will be
implemented in this important corridor, which carries over 35 000
commuters per day to Gauteng, particularly to the City of Tshwane
and back. I am also pleased to announce that an integrated rapid
rail option solution will be implemented in this important corridor,
which carries that big number of people, as I have mentioned.
In the current financial year, over R5,5 billion will be spent in 13
cities on planning, building and operating integrated public
transport networks.
Regarding school transport, the conditions and ways in which our
learners travel to school leave much to be desired. The Department
of Transport and the Department of Basic Education will soon
finalise the policy and will table it to Cabinet. To date, 95 000
bicycles have been distributed by the department. In the next three
years, we intend to distribute more than 21 000.
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Although the sector is crucial to reducing poverty, sharing
prosperity and achieving development goals, transport is also at the
heart of development challenges, such as rapid urbanisation and
motorisation. Cities are expected to grow to 5,2 billion residents
by 2050. Over the next 20 years, more cars may be built than in the
110-year history of the auto industry.
Regarding accessibility and affordability, an estimated one billion
people in low-income countries lack access to an all-weather road.
In cities, time lost to congestion erodes prosperity. High mobility
costs cut the disposable income of the poor in many cities that lack
formal and affordable public transport.
As the developing world rapidly urbanises, there is an opportunity
to build safer, cleaner and more affordable transport systems that
reduce congestion ... [Interjections.] ... facilitate access to jobs
and lower transport energy consumption. In emerging cities, where
most of the new urban dwellers live, city planners have an
opportunity to design sustainable and inclusive transport system
from the start, leapfrogging more polluting and costly modes. In
older, larger cities ... [Time expired.] I thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order! Hon member, you have
the option of using the podium at the front or speaking from your
seat.
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HON MEMBERS: Malibongwe! [Praise!].
Ms D P MAGADZI: Malibongwe! [Praise!]Hon Chairperson, Minister Dipuo
Peters, hon Deputy Minister Chikunga, hon members of the House, the
MECs from our various provinces, officials from the Department of
Transport, led by the acting director-general; CEOs and chairpersons
of public entities in the Department of Transport, stakeholders in
the Department of Transport, distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen, ri perile [good evening].
In the preamble of the ruling party’s manifesto, President Jacob
Zuma said, and I quote:
Twenty years ago we began a new journey to eradicate the
oppressive legacy of colonialism and apartheid. It has been 20
years of freedom and democracy in which we have made significant
steps towards achieving the vision of the Freedom Charter.
The manifesto of the ruling party goes on to say that the progress
made in 20 years of democracy to eradicate the legacy of 340 years
of colonialism and apartheid sets the foundation for what still
needs to be done into the future. Indeed ...
... lehono go phala maabane, gosasa go tla phala lehono. [... it
gets better by the day.]
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The impressive record of what the department has achieved in the
past few years in terms of infrastructure and developing policies
and integrated transport operations, among other successes, cannot
go unnoticed. It is therefore important to say that socioeconomic
transformation has been the agenda of this department in the past 20
years - an agenda that is dictated to by the ANC.
This does not mean that the road the department has traversed in the
past 20 years is not a road without challenges, but suffice to say
that the road ahead is looking bright, as the committee heard during
the presentation.
With a budget of R48,7 billion, the department has emphasised, in
their strategic overview, that they will maximise efforts to make
sure that they meet their target as outlined. However, as a
committee, we need to say to the department that having gone through
the Auditor-General’s report, having seen that the Annual
Performance Plan, APP, of the department is not smart, the committee
believes that, going forward, that will be a thing of the past.
Hon members, there is a need for the department to look into the
challenges of vacancies, particularly in the senior management. As I
said in the introduction, there are many senior management vacancies
in the department, which is led by an acting director-general. The
issue of employment equity is one of the things that the department
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must look into. Lastly, the department should look into people with
disabilities.
When we as the committee say this, we are applying it not only to
the department but to public entities as a whole. We are excited
because the department, working as it is with the Department of
Higher Education, will be able to produce a lot of professionals to
fill those vacancies.
The committee recognises the massive progress that has been made by
the department, particularly on the National Transport Master Plan,
Natmap. The National Development Plan, in its making, demands that
there should be forward planning that integrates everything. We
believe that with Natmap this is what is going to be addressed.
Among other things, let me quote what Minister Sisulu said the aim
was in the founding document of Natmap:
To develop a dynamic, long-term and sustainable land
use/multimodal transportation systems framework for the
development of network infrastructure facilities, interchange
terminal facilities and service delivery.
This is an indication that the department is geared to deliver
services to our people. In its approach, the project phase talks to
- among other things - the situation that is the status quo. It
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talks to the analysis of the situation. It also talks to the
forward-planning approach and, importantly, it is talking to the
action agenda, which will actually be implemented in the not-sodistant future.
This means that the department, in line with the micro policies of a
developmental state, is adhering to what the ANC is saying. This
therefore means that the department is adhering to what the
President of the Republic of South Africa said in the state of the
nation address: These are the radical changes that he is expecting.
Key in what the department should be working towards is the proposed
regional integration. We believe that this will enhance the economy
and the growth of the region in totality. We are waiting in
anticipation for the agreements that will pass through our committee
and into this House which, we believe, will in the future see the
creation of a region that is hard at work.
As the region of the Southern African Development Community, SADC,
we are being challenged to create jobs and eradicate poverty and
unemployment. As the department, we will be dealing with
transformation in marine areas, in civil aviation and in corridor
transport systems. We believe that the development of skills in
SADC, making sure that we create employment, will be the in thing.
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Committee members will be looking forward to the department’s
industrialisation agenda in the region. However, we are also urging
the department to give us an update on progress that has been made
in terms of the Millennium Development Goals, Nepad issues and the
African Peer Review Mechanism programmes of the department.
Hon members, a democratic developmental state is capable of
effectively transforming the economic agenda. This developmental
state should be at the centre of that transformation agenda. This is
what has been quoted in the resolution report of the 53rd national
conference of the ANC.
If I have to take myself down memory lane, feasibility studies have
been done on the Moloto Rail Development Corridor. Since 2004,
Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces have been part of these feasibility
studies. We are of the opinion that this is not the time for
feasibility studies anymore; that our people should be able to see
...
... hu khou duba buse hafha fhasi. [... people very busy at work.]
Minister, our people’s patience is not limitless. We are requesting
your department to work tirelessly. If needs be, they must work
24/7. If needs be, they must work 365 days a year to make sure that
this project goes ahead as speedily as possible, because one life
lost is one life too many. [Applause.]
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Transport network development is a pillar of the economy. We know
that the people who drive from Kwaggafontein to Pretoria are
strengthening the economy of our country. Therefore, as you deal
with the Moloto Road Corridor, you must remember that you are also
dealing with the challenges of our economy, which is growing but
without creating enough jobs.
Hon Minister, it is prudent that you will be manufacturing the
rolling stock and revitalising the road network infrastructure. We
believe that a massive skills development programme should be
included in all the things that the department will be doing.
This morning, I was watching SABC and one Bongani Molope, who is a
commuter representative, revealed certain shocking situations that
are being experienced by commuters in their day-to-day activities as
a result of matters relating to Metrorail or the Passenger Rail
Agency of SA, Prasa. I believe these need urgent attention.
Bongani Molope indicated that some trains arrive on time while
others do not arrive on time or never arrive at all, which poses a
challenge to them because they are unable to go to work. Molope also
impressed upon his interviewer the fact that there is so much
congestion during peak and rush hours that they become highly
challenged as commuters because the coaches are so full. Molope also
said the safety and security of commuters in these trains are
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nonexistent. I believe that Prasa should take serious heed of the
call that Molope made this morning.
In their response, the spokesperson for Prasa indicated that there
are challenges and that they are created by a variety of factors.
Among other things, she indicated that there are criminals who are
hellbent on stealing the cables and making sure that they take the
railway metals. This is unacceptable. As South Africans, we need to
condemn the people who are doing these heinous types of crime
because the lives of commuters are at stake.
In the same breath, let us call on the business people who are
dealing in scrap metal to account for the scrap that comes into
their business premises. [Applause.] We also call on our communities
to refrain from damaging the assets that government is trying to
create.
The development, maintenance and regulation of road infrastructure
is the domain of the department and, as indicated by the Minister
here, as much as 41% of the budget goes to the provinces to make
sure that road infrastructure is dealt with. Minister, I believe you
should develop a monitoring system to make sure that our local
municipalities and provinces use those grants for what they are
meant for. It is not right and proper that people are able to claim
money for work they have not done while our people are disadvantaged
because the road infrastructure will not be as expected.
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Minister, in the same breath, I also think we should award those
provincial departments and municipalities that are doing proper work
and also make sure that they attest to and account for all the money
they are spending in this particular programme. These grants have
not been allocated for a salary or any other purpose. They have been
allocated to road maintenance, the pothole recovery plan and the
development of new roads. And this was done because in the rural
areas road safety has become an issue of paramount importance. In
the rural areas, road networks are needed more today than yesterday.
Of importance is that when we lose lives because our roads are not
in good condition; when we lose lives because there are overloaded
vehicles on the road; and when we lose lives because the cars are
not in good condition, these are the things that we bring to the
department, saying, please, have a programme that runs 365 days a
year and that will look into the safety of our commuters, the safety
of our roads and compliance with the law.
Let me indicate that civil aviation and maritime transport are
programmes that are not properly known to the people of the Republic
of SA. It is exciting to see that the department is taking these
programmes to a variety of schools in the different provinces of our
country. We believe that our learners will be able to understand and
venture into professions that are outlined in these presentations.
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Also of importance is the fact that the department is embarking on a
rigorous transformation agenda, wherein some black economic
empowerment, BEE, people will be able to find jobs and businesses in
the maritime and aviation sectors. I want to applaud the department
for this.
The committee therefore believes that the department must live up to
its mandate of maintaining a safe, secure, efficient and reliable
transport system; one that will increase the mobility of our people,
particularly regarding the modes of public transport in their areas.
The fast-tracking of all outstanding policies, particularly scholar
transport, is of the essence. This should be fast-tracked yesterday.
The department should also take cognisance of the fact that this is
the department that produces more greenhouse gases than any other as
they go about their day-to-day business. We believe the department
will be able to comply and work very closely with the other
departments in this faculty so that we can comply with what is
expected, namely to make sure that we do not pollute the environment
but become part of the people who protect against climate change and
save the continent.
With these words, we as the committee want to support Budget Vote
37. I thank you. [Applause.]
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Mr M S F DE FREITAS: House Chairperson, allow me to start off by
thanking the Minister and Deputy Minister for the time they spent
with the portfolio committee when it was analysing the budget. It is
most unusual for a Minister to spend so much time, if any, with the
committee. Thank you for respecting the important role that we play
as a committee. [Applause.]
However, I query whether in future our Minister and Deputy Minister
will be as present, because their department’s annual performance
plan indicates that spending on travel and subsistence is expected
to increase to R31,8 million in the 2016-17 financial year, and I
quote from the plan, “as a result of the Minister and Deputy
Minister’s needing to travel more often”. Now, the amount of
R31,8 million could easily cover 90 857 potholes. The mind boggles
at where the Minister would need to travel to so much considering
the many urgent and pressing issues she has to attend right here at
home.
By far the biggest transport issue on the lips of South Africans at
present is the e-tolls issue, which the public, almost unanimously,
has rejected. This issue has been handled poorly from the very
beginning. The voters of Gauteng have been making their feelings
felt with their peaceful resistance campaign by not signing onto the
e-tag system. Their feelings were further clearly demonstrated when
they reduced the ANC’s support from 64% in the 2009 election to 53%
in this year’s election. The ANC in Gauteng is now desperate to show
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its voters that it is on their side on this issue and is now trying
to fool them into thinking that they are doing something positive on
this issue.
The partly failed South African National Roads Agency Limited bond
auction on 2 July, which raised only R275 million out of a total
offering of R465 million, shows that investors are nervous. The
announcement by the premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, of reviewing
the e-tolls system is nothing more than a public relations stunt.
The e-tolls system is governed by national legislation, therefore
the only body that is empowered to legitimately review the system
and make pronouncements on its future is Parliament, through the
Portfolio Committee of Transport. The review panel must therefore be
a parliamentary committee.
Why is Minister Peters remaining silent on this while Premier
Makhura continues with this charade? The DA calls for the Minister
to show leadership and support the need for the review of e-tolls to
take place right here in Parliament. The terms of reference for this
Gauteng e-toll review panel clearly indicates that the panel is not
empowered to take any action against e-tolls. The people of South
Africa need to see action on this and not just a talk-shop in
Gauteng - one that has no legal powers. The cost of this review
panel will take public funds away from other critical needs, yet it
can make no meaningful change to the e-tolls scheme.
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To add insult to injury, Sanral branding and vehicles are used at
roadblocks conducted by other traffic enforcement agencies.
Motorists are being intimidated to buy e-tags. This is being done
without any legal basis. [Interjections.] Yes, I have seen it. I
have already written to the head of the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate, Robert McBride, to request an urgent
investigation into the use of the traffic enforcement agencies by
Sanral for the purpose of coercing motorists to purchase e-tags.
The DA opposes the abuse of policing services, which should be
spending their time upholding the law and keeping South Africans
safe. It appears that Sanral’s abuse does not stop here. The
Minister needs to tell this House and, indeed, the citizens of South
Africa if Sanral still intends to pursue the prosecution and
criminalisation of some one million people who have not paid their
e-toll bills. To do this will only serve to aggravate the implicit
conflict between government and the public. The DA will continue to
fight the e-tolls in its current form, which are an economic burden
and were imposed on South Africans without any meaningful
consultation.
The ANC’s indifference to rail transport, which should be the
backbone of public transport, caused a massive swing towards
trucking and it is no coincidence that the road fatality rate has
steadily increased since 1998, as the number of vehicles on our
roads exceeded the traffic police’s resources and competence. For
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example, the paucity of weighbridges and preferences to enforce
speed instead of moving violations were directly responsible for the
complete destruction of the N3 to Durban by overloaded trucks,
resulting in it being rebuilt and tolled so heavily that it is now
cheaper to fly to Durban than to drive.
Rail networks exist across our country and the efficiencies of rail
versus road transport are well known. It takes one litre of diesel
to transport one tonne of goods over 100 meters via road, compared
to the same litre transporting one tonne for four kilometres on rail
transport. Why are we even allowing this to happen? It appears that
government is starting to understand that rail must be the backbone
of any public transport system, and they must be congratulated on
that. However, until I see the lion’s share of the budget being
allocated to rail and its development, I remain sceptical about
government’s seriousness about getting people off the roads.
Currently, the largest amount in the budget is still allocated to
roads and its infrastructure. With making rail the backbone of
transport must come the assurance that using rail is indeed safe.
However, reports in the media allege that the chief executive
officer of the Railway Safety Regulator spent taxpayers’ money to
hire his friends and cronies. Has this been investigated, Minister?
This is not the only issue that government is slow to realise. The
National Transport Master Plan, Natmap, is still outstanding and
Minister Peters called for industry input only in October last year.
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How much longer will this take? I remember talking about Natmap back
in 2009 when I first joined the transport committee.
It was highlighted in our portfolio committee deliberations that the
National Scholar Transport Policy has been outstanding for years and
has still not been finalised. In fact, during a presentation to the
Portfolio Committee on Transport in the last Parliament, the
Department of Transport’s chief financial officer, Collins Letsoalo,
admitted that after eight years the department has still not
finalised its National Scholar Transport Policy.
Furthermore, after five years, the policy for the Shova Kalula
project, a programme meant to provide an estimated one million
bicycles to rural schools, has not been implemented either. Its
pilot programme demonstrated a number of deficiencies. The
department, it seems, has been unable to resolve these problems. In
every Budget Vote on Transport speech I have delivered to date, I
have spoken about road safety. More than 14 000 people lose their
lives on South Africa’s roads annually and despite the target of a
30% reduction in road fatalities, the Minister only achieved an
embarrassing 0,79% reduction. The Western Cape transport department,
however, has managed to achieve a 31% reduction since 2009.
South Africa is rated the worst out of 36 other countries when it
comes to the number of road fatalities. South Africa’s road
fatalities per 100 000 inhabitants was at 27,6% deaths in 2011,
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according to the International Transport Forum’s Road Safety Annual
Report. These fatalities result in a huge socioeconomic cost,
estimated to be at R306 billion per annum. The Minister must explain
why, as reported in the World Health Organisation’s report into road
safety released last month, South Africa ranks 177th out of 182
countries studied for road fatalities. This is worse than any
disease that we have in South Africa. [Interjections.] Well, you are
doing nothing about it - 7,9% is embarrassing!
Why are road deaths increasing despite having a dedicated body, the
Road Traffic Management Corporation, RTMC, at its disposal and its
mounting several high-profile road safety campaigns? The previous
Minister of Transport, Ben Martins, recognised the need to shut down
the RTMC, yet Minister Peters’ new plan for the troublesome entity
seems confusing and unclear despite our unacceptable road death
figures year after year. The RTMC’s underreporting on road deaths is
compromised. It is clear that the RTMC is largely ineffectual in
stemming the annual tide of these deaths. A major shift is therefore
needed in how we approach road safety.
Why do the figures released by the Department of Transport over the
last five years for road deaths differ vastly from mortality death
studies performed by the national institute for mortality studies
and the October 2012 report by the Medical Research Council into
death certificates at mortuaries? I can’t help thinking that the
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statistics provided by the department are massaged before they are
made public.
The Minister and her Deputy Minister have their work cut out for
them. I hope that by this time next year we will have more to
celebrate as there is little to celebrate at the moment. Her first
step would be to travel less and sort out these problems right here
at home. Thank you, Chair.
Mr T E MULAUDZI: Hon Chair, the entire Ministry of Transport, hon
members ...
... ndi madekwana. [... good evening.]
The EFF understands that transport is a critical component in ending
racial and class inequality in South Africa and in promoting
development. Twenty years after democracy, our transport system
still has a class and racial bias. The EFF seeks to promote a propoor transport system, something that the government has not
prioritised. We therefore understand that even though road transport
remains the major carrier of our people, especially the poor black
working class and the unemployed, not enough resources and capacity
have been dedicated to the transformation and efficiency of road
transport.
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Road transport has been awarded 40% of the entire department’s
budget. However, 20 years into democracy, 60% of our roads are still
in a very bad state, with permanent potholes on almost every road.
For example, the roads in our rural areas such as Limpopo, the North
West and Mpumalanga are in a very bad state, and most of the people
who die on our roads die because of these potholes. How many people
have lost their property because 60% of the roads are in a poor
state? This is very disturbing because vehicle owners pay annual
licence fees, which increase each and every year, and the very
objective of the licence fees is to maintain our roads.
Our roads are full of potholes and are not marked adequately. There
is a lack of relevant road signs and roads are not fenced to hinder
stray animals. Some of the tarred roads constructed during the 20
years of democracy are in such a bad state that some of the gravel
roads are better than the tarred roads. The EFF will make sure that
each and every village has a tarred access road ... [Interjections.]
... to provide for the smooth running of taxis and buses to
transport the poor. [Interjections.]
The road infrastructure grant transferred to the provinces and
municipalities is not monitored enough or with keen enough interest.
We are also concerned about our road oversight subprogrammes. Most
of the huge budget of road transport is allocated to the three
entities: the SA National Roads Agency Limited, Sanral, the Road
Traffic Management Corporation, the RTMC, and the Road Traffic
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Infringement Agency, the RTIA. We think that the RTMC is not
allocated enough because most of ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): Hon member, you have two
minutes remaining. Continue.
Mr T E MULAUDZI: The EFF wants the RTMC and its sister entity to be
beefed up with adequate budget in order to improve the
implementation of the road safety strategy on our roads. How can one
reduce the number of accidents when the majority of traffic officers
do not work overtime? We need traffic policing to take place 365
days of the year on our roads and on a 24/7 basis – but traffic
policing is still fragmented 10 years after the formation of the
RTMC. There is fragmentation in traffic law enforcement because
there are five different forms of traffic law enforcement - and all
in different uniforms. What fragmentation!
The EFF is also concerned about the inconsistency of the Arrive
Alive strategy, which says, “Do not drink and drive”, while section
65 of the National Road Traffic Act indirectly allows people to
drink not more than 0,05 g per 100 ml. [Laughter.] When you are
drinking, how do you measure when you have reached the limit? How
many drunk-driving cases have been dropped and people acquitted
because of the logistics: the timing of blood samples and the
availability of doctors, etc? All these factors end up affecting the
entire budget. We are saying the National Road Traffic Act must be
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amended to simply say that drinking alcohol and driving is an
offence as per the Arrive Alive strategy.
In terms of public transport, the EFF believes that South Africa
needs a pro-poor transport ... Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
[Time expired.]
Mr K P SITHOLE: Hon Chairperson, this department’s main objective is
to provide a safe, secure and efficient medium for the movement of
people, goods and services from one location to another. This
includes all air, rail, road and sea transportation and is vital to
our economic development because of its role as a facilitator of
trade.
It is therefore imperative that all the above modes of transport are
adequately maintained, both in terms of logistics and in terms of
financial resources. What we see in this country is that while we
have an adequate budget for transport, we do not have management and
maintenance that are up to the task. This is a departmental
shortcoming, which has been translated over the years into a general
degradation of many of our modes of transport, with road transport
being the worst.
Road transport is currently a problem with many variables, including
illegal and unlicensed road users, ineffective and corrupt traffic
authorities and an ineffective Department of Transport. We see
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unlicensed driving schools springing up all over the country. We see
rampant fraud and corruption in the issuing of driver’s licences. We
see traffic authorities more concerned with receiving bribes than
implementing the laws of our roads. We see the resultant carnage and
high number of deaths on our roads as a result of all of the above.
The Moloto Road is an example of such a death trap. We ask the
department to intervene urgently in order to make this road safe for
motorists. Our rail network is underutilised, which results in a
knock-on effect, and the greater utilisation of road transport leads
to unnecessary road damage, delays and a greater incidence of
accidents and deaths.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): Hon member, you have two
minutes remaining.
Mr K P SITHOLE: The e-tolls, which are nothing more than another
weapon to cripple our poor and most vulnerable, must be scrapped.
The IFP remains ardently opposed to all forms of e-tolling and
appeals to the Minister to relook this issue.
In the Government Gazette, published last Thursday, the department
said that a further 1,535,7 km of Limpopo’s road network would now
fall under Sanral management, after the province was unable to
manage maintenance and repairs. Limpopo now becomes the third
province to give up its network to Sanral. Sanral now maintains more
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than 21,200 km of our road infrastructure. Why is our provincial
department of transport failing to manage the repairs and
maintenance of its provincial roads? This must be addressed by the
Minister.
We support the budget in order to see an improvement in our
transport network.
Ngqongqoshe, kunento eyodwa nje engiyicelayo; ngicela ungenelele
kule nkinga yalo mgwaqo osuka eSilutshana oya e—Kranskop
ongamakhilomitha ayi-170. Lo mngwaqo ubulale othisha bebuya
kofundisa ekolishi lokuqhubezela imfundo noqeqesho [FET colleges]
eliseNquthu ngonyaka odlule. Lo mngwaqo usubaqedile abantu.
Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Minister, there is only one thing that I’m requesting; will you
please intervene in the matter regarding the road from Silutshana to
Kranskop which is about 170km. Teachers who were coming from the FET
College in Nqutu died on this road last year. Many people have also
died on this road. Thank you.]
I thank you.
Mr M S MABIKA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister and
all hon members, the NFP welcomes the budget of R48,7 billion and
the 8,2% increase on the previous budget. However, we note with
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great concern that there was an underexpenditure of R240 million on
public transport in the previous financial year, which contributes
to a lack of service delivery. We hope that the department will look
into ways and means of making sure that such high underexpenditure
does not happen again in this 2014-15 financial year.
The public transport budget increases from R10,8 billion to
R11,3 billion. But it remains a big challenge how rural and scholar
transport is going to be seen through, ...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): You are left with two
minutes, hon member.
Mr M S MABIKA ... because you can make transport available in the
form of buses and taxis for all the rural schools. But the bigger
problem in the rural areas is that there are schools where buses and
taxis cannot enter – except 4x4s - and some of the roads are blocked
by rivers when it is raining as there are no bridges to cross.
Therefore, in order for rural and scholar transport to be
successful, the issue of rural road development should be given
special attention by the department.
Ngqongqoshe, uma ufuna ukubona le nto engiyishoyo, kungafanele
uhlele i-4x4 yakho ngikuyise eMamfene Okhethe. Ngingakuyisa futhi
ezikoleni okuthiwa iManyampisi nase-Ekuvukeni KwaMhlabuyalingana.
[Minister, if you want to see what I am talking about, you will need
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to prepare your 4x4 so that I can take you to Mamfene in the Okhethe
area. I can also take you to the schools in KwaMhlabuyalingana
called Manyampisi and Ekuvukeni.]
The few places I have mentioned are sandy, and no bikes can ride
there.
Lastly, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, Prasa, and Sanral are
government-funded entities. We believe therefore that the department
should not allow actions by these entities that cause havoc and
unrest in the country, as well as more waste and unbudgeted
expenditure of state resources, for example the e-toll saga and the
Lwandle evictions. So, as the NFP, we are totally against the etolls and what happened in Lwandle. Thank you. [Time expired.]
[Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of
Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, MECs of transport, the chairperson and
members of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, hon Members of
Parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, in his 2014
state of the nation address, His Excellency President J G Zuma
mandated the nation to embark on radical socioeconomic
transformation to address the triple challenge of unemployment,
poverty and inequality.
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Indeed, as the Reconstruction and Development Programme of 1994
purports:
No political democracy can survive and flourish if the masses of
our people remain in poverty without land, without tangible
prospects for a better life. Attacking poverty and deprivation
must therefore be the first priority of a democratic government.
Let it be said that we have vigorously commenced implementing
concise skills development plans, advancing safety and security, and
promoting transformation and women and youth empowerment in the
transport sector. The Department of Transport, together with its
maritime entities, the SA Maritime Safety Authority and the Ports
Regulator of South Africa, through the 2013-14 Year of Maritime, are
implementing strategic activities that support and facilitate the
positioning of South Africa as a world-class maritime nation.
Our radical maritime programme, as cited in the state of the nation
address, is envisaged to contribute between R129 billion and
R177 billion and would create between 800 000 to one million jobs by
2033. This gives further impetus to our National Development Plan,
which aims to increase competitiveness and export earnings through
better infrastructure and public/private sector services, lowering
the cost of doing business, improving skills and innovation, as well
as targeting state support to specific sectors.
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It is a historical record that team transport is part of the first
team in Operation Phakisa for focusing on unearthing the maritime
industry radical development potentials. [Applause.] We envision a
South Africa that will be a leading and highly competent maritime
nation. In this regard we are creating an enabling legislative and
policy environment that will enhance our adaptability to the
envisaged radical growth as we embark on a broader maritime blue
ocean economy. Evidence to this is the draft Maritime Transport
Policy, the processing of which we are fast-tracking, as stated here
by the Minister of Transport.
In efforts to the enhance safety and security of our shores, we have
budgeted R150 million to the maritime and aeronautical search and
rescue regulations programmes. Budget allocation of R262 million
will be used to enhance the level of governance, sustainable
environmental protection and the safety and security of our
territorial waters.
We have focused attention on improving maritime safety standards and
the norms and culture of safe maritime practices. Since 2013-14 and
over a period of 10 years we will enrol a substantial number of
students at various tertiary institutions nationally and abroad.
This will be complemented by the continuous implementation of the
national cadetship programme, which is a feeder to the maritime
industry. This endeavour is in line with Vision 2030, which seeks an
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expanded skills base through better education and vocational
training.
In this financial year the Department of Transport, in partnership
with its sister departments, will launch the national maritime
education and skills initiative and the national maritime job
scheme. We are finalising the process of appointing the Broad-Based
Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council and adopting an
implementation plan of action in support of the President’s call for
radical economic transformation.
Regarding research, through the expertise of the SA Maritime Safety
Authority, Samsa, and our maritime branch, we have committed to
providing technical support for the launch of the maritime research
and innovation roadmap, led by the Department of Science and
Technology. An allocation of R64 million has been apportioned to
advance maritime industry development interests. It is this
Ministry’s conviction that our maritime economic wealth will
radically transform and elevate South Africa’s economic trajectory.
Aviation is a critical catalyst for global economic development and
it is estimated to account for R74 billion of South Africa’s gross
domestic product. Aviation supports about 230 000 jobs, according to
an International Air Transport Association, Iata, 2013 press
release. The Department of Transport will continue to represent
South Africa and Africa’s interests at the International Civil
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Aviation Organisation. On 26 September 2013 our country was
successfully re-elected to the Council of the International Civil
Aviation Organisation, thus reaffirming South Africa’s position in
the international aviation arena. [Applause.]
In fact, it is our intention to deploy officials in all strategic
regional, continental and international organisations to promote
South Africa and Africa’s interest in aviation. Safety remains a
priority and is a strategic imperative in aviation. To date we have
established an independent aviation accident investigation body and
have allocated R17,9 million to advance and maintain our renowned
aviation safety record.
At the beginning of February this year the SA Civil Aviation
Authority developed and introduced its cross-functional accident
reduction plan. The plan aims to reduce accidents in the general
aviation sector in a co-ordinated manner.
On skills development and transformation, the SA Civil Aviation
Authority has concluded agreements with the Universities of Walter
Sisulu, Wits and Pretoria in order to roll out aviation medical
training and thus contribute to transformation. This will commence
during this financial year.
In 2014-15 the Air Traffic Navigation Services will implement a
performance-based navigation system programme aimed at further
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upgrading operational efficacy. On 8 August this year we will host a
second aviation industry transformation roundtable, which provides a
platform for generating practical solutions geared to address the
lethargic pace of transformation in the aviation industry.
The state of readiness of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency,
RTIA, for the national roll-out programme of Administrative
Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences, Aarto, is in the final phase.
To date, a detailed Aarto readiness checklist has been developed and
provided to the provinces and metros. Two critical issues were
identified that needed finality before commencement of the Aarto
roll-out: Firstly, the national contravention register had to be
fully developed in support of all the Administrative Adjudication of
Road Traffic Offences Act requirements; and secondly, funding
availability had to be ensured for the RTIA to satisfy all its
obligations in terms of the Administrative Adjudication of Road
Traffic Offences Act.
The increasing rail incidents in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the
Western Cape provinces have been noted with great concern. These are
as a consequence of many factors, including poor spatial planning
and underinvestment in rail by the apartheid regime. The urban
Integrated Development Framework and the National Transport Master
Plan are critical instruments and will be responsive to these
challenges. Moreover, the Rail Safety Regulator has also finalised
and commenced the roll out of level crossing rail safety standards.
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To address criminal activities that continue to engulf rail
transport, our rail safety regulator has developed a framework to
align their incident reporting system with the SA Police Service
case reporting system.
The introduction of progressive legislation and policy framework
post-1994 by the ANC-led government seeks to have 50% women
representation as per the ruling party’s manifesto and resolutions.
In the predominantly male-dominated transport sector, we have made
significant strides to emancipate women, youth and people living
with disabilities to actively participate in all sociopolitical and
economic development programmes. More, however, still needs to be
done. [Applause.]
I am proud to announce that on 1 December 2013 the Minister of
Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, appointed the first black female
director of the SA Civil Aviation Authority. [Applause.] She is in
charge of regulating the civil aviation environment for our country.
As the Department of Transport we have met and now intend to exceed
the 2% employment target set for people living with disabilities.
Over the next five years we will develop and implement the human
resource development strategy of the transport sector as a whole.
Regarding gender equity, at present our statistics show a 38,28%
women and slightly more than 61,74% men representation at executive
level and 44,54% women and 55,4% men at all levels. Our target is to
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achieve a deserving capacitated 50-50 parity and we are going there.
[Applause.] The SA Women in Transport Summit and its subsector
organs, like Women in Rail, Women in Maritime and Women in Road
Construction, have been active instruments and drivers spearheading
women’s economic development.
From Women in Rail, 19 women-owned entities have benefited from a
R293 million project under the rail national station improvement
programme and we need to accelerate the projects implementation in
this regard. Hon members, we do have a good story to tell.
[Applause.] In 2013-14 we invested over R100 million on a
groundbreaking skills development programme. Multiple training
interventions were delivered and targeted the youth and women,
enabling them to take advantage of the potential thousands of job
opportunities in the global maritime sector. Ninety-three young
unemployed engineering graduates were given the opportunity to
convert from mechanical engineering to marine engineering.
In 2013-14 the Air Traffic and Navigation Services, ATNS, trained a
total of 773 internal students, at a pass rate of 93%, within the
air traffic services and engineering disciplines, of which 42% were
females. [Applause.] Concurrently 815 external students from across
African states were trained at a pass rate of 100% by our ATNS
academy.
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The Aviation Training Academy was again awarded for being the IATA
regional training provider of the year for the second successive
year. The Air Traffic Navigation Services, through its deployment of
leading technology, regulating 10% of the world airspace has
achieved world-class safety levels at the air traffic management
community. It is a good story.
The European Union and the United States of America has given the SA
National Cargo Security Programme full recognition. This recognition
positions South Africa on the green list of only 30 countries in the
world and the only one in Africa that has various benefits,
including second exemptions. This boosts investor confidence and
creates business development opportunities, because South African
carriers will accrue trade and economic benefits given that they
will be exempted from paying validation fees.
In conclusion, as a nation and the Department of Transport at work,
led by the Minister, our programmes will always seek to create an
economy that is inclusive, equitable and fast-growing; achieved
through growing employment, supporting productivity, improving
efficiency and moving towards greater equality. God bless South
Africa. Thank you. [Time expired.]
Ms D CARTER: Chairperson, Cope believes that the NDP correctly
emphasises the necessity of sound economic infrastructure as a
precondition for economic growth. Our country’s transport
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infrastructure is a key priority. As with every other Minister,
projections extend to 2030 or to 2050. Minister, we call on you: We
need your department to spell out a year-by-year projection to
accurately test for performance, so that we can examine whether the
small targets leading to the big results are in fact being met.
Reports continuously surface about the poor state of roads in our
country. Roads are not being maintained. Corruption in the
procurement process leading to shady work is worsening the
situation. This is impacting negatively on the economy as a whole.
Let us take the R74 into perspective: The Deputy Minister does not
agree with it, but the R74 was a link to the tourism-rich areas of
the Northern Drakensberg with the Free State, Gauteng and Lesotho.
This is also used as an alternative route through Little Switzerland
and other places to KwaZulu-Natal.
Through corruption, mismanagement and maladministration, businesses
like the Sterkfontein Dam have been liquidated and closed down.
Farming has come to a total standstill. The department acknowledged
that they are now going to fix the road but businesses were
liquidated; livelihoods were lost. Citizens have lost their
livelihoods and families have borne the brunt of the consequences.
Unless hon De Freitas and Mabika had hijacked my speech, then there
must be some truth in the following statement, ... [Laughter.] ...
because Cope condemns the unlawful intimidation of Gauteng motorists
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by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, the JMPD, and
the SA National Roads Agency, Sanral, in coercing motorists to buy
e-tags. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): Order! You still have
two minutes. You can steal his speech as well. [Laughter.]
Ms D CARTER: There is clear evidence of Sanral branding, vehicles
and equipment at roadblocks conducted by JMPD. Cope insists on a
review of the e-toll saga. We note that the premier of Gauteng is in
the process of establishing a panel to review the e-toll matter. The
fact of the matter is, as stated earlier, that the e-toll was
enabled by national government. It is national legislation. Thus, a
debate on this matter ultimately rests at national level - right
here; nowhere else!
An important lesson for government throughout the sorry saga is the
need to ensure that the citizens of this country are adequately
consulted prior to such unworkable decisions being taken. Sanral is
at the forefront of the despicable Lwandle evictions in Cape Town.
One wonders whether there will be any objectivity from the appointed
commission, because they are political cronies.
The current fuel levy, Minister, should really be ring-fenced solely
for road construction and maintenance, and not as is the case
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currently, where it is merely put into the Pandora’s box of general
national revenue.
Of grave concern to Cope are recent reports relating to Transnet’s
R50 billion locomotive tender and the role played by Transnet tender
committee chairperson Iqbal Sharma. Reports link Sharma to VR Laser,
the company that was awarded some of the work, the Guptas and
Duduzane Zuma. Cope views the matter in a most serious light. This
matter should be investigated and the committee appraised of the
findings. I thank you.
Mr L RAMATLAKANE: Hon Chair, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, MECs,
hon members, I rise following the Minister’s outline of the
department’s budget of over R48 billion and his detailing of what
the department seeks to achieve in the financial year of 2014-15. I
need to state from the onset that integrated transport systems in
South Africa and worldwide remains critical for the movement of
goods and people, sending people from one point to the next,
including workers, children at school and those who just want to
enjoy city life, visiting key tourist attractions and the beauty in
our country.
I can also say without fear of contradiction that transport is the
heartbeat of South African economic growth and social development.
It is therefore this department that we must all support without
playing any cheap politics. We met with the Minister, the Deputy
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Minster and the officials who briefed us on the budget. We are
highly impressed to see that as a team you are indeed driving the
programme to achieve the goals of the National Development Plan,
which is also in line with the manifesto’s commitment. [Applause.]
The NDP directs that job creation, skills development and poverty
alleviation must receive high priority. As part of its programme of
action, the department has a responsibility to ensure that
structural impediments and other related hindrances are removed in
order to guarantee the future of South Africa with sustainable
economic and social development.
This budget is an important tool aimed at contributing to the Moving
South African Forward campaign, as articulated by President Jacob
Zuma in the state of the nation address last month. The NDP also
sets out that:
The proportion of people who use public transport for regular
commutes will expand significantly. By 2030, public transport
will be user-friendly, less environmentally damaging, cheaper and
integrated or seamless.
Given that my time is limited, I will focus only on integrated
transport planning, the public transport system, and civil aviation
as some of the department’s key programmes. We need to ensure that
we promote a safe, reliable, effective, efficient, affordable, co-
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ordinated, integrated and environmentally friendly public transport
system. We should adhere to norms, standards and legislation to
guide the implementation of public transport for rural and urban
passengers.
We also need to regulate interprovincial public transport and
tourism services, as well as monitor and evaluate the implementation
of public transport plans, as informed by the National Land
Transport Act, Act 5 of 2009.
Minister, it is our view that when norms and standards are not
adequately adhered to, fragmentation cannot be constrained. We call
on you to intervene to close the gaps and achieve adherence by all
role-players. Taking into account that our country is a unitary
state, this cannot be overemphasised.
We recognise the work of the department towards the regional
corridor planning and implementation. We know and support the view
that an efficient transport system depends on uniform standards,
directed by a clear policy with built-in measures that disallow the
provision of conflicting standards. We need to support transport
integrated infrastructure development and allow it to stretch into
the region in order for our economy to be unleashed. As a country,
we cannot fail in this task. Failure will negatively affect economic
growth with catastrophic results for a flourishing nation and the
entire continent.
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This takes me to the public transport system as driven by the
department. In 1994, public transport was close to nonexistent. We
had huge bus subsidies, with a commuting pattern that consumed more
than 10% of the salary of working people without meeting their
needs. For ordinary people, the average journey by bus was about
80 km one way. Both the White Paper on National Transport Policy and
the Moving South Africa Forward campaign remain groundbreaking in
changing the imbalances of the past.
Today, we speak a different language. We speak of an integrated
transport system with all modes playing a nondestructive role. We
speak about the integration of bus, minibus and rail transport, with
each playing a feeder system role. Today, the government focuses on
a “public transport first” policy, where resources are more and more
directed to serve the needs of commuters, not to service providers.
We know that we still have pockets of subsidies and the department
is working fast to discontinue that skewed system. The department
should phase out this system into a new, integrated public transport
system that will be pro-poor, pro-people and not enriching the
service provider. We recognise that the department has started on
this work but it is moving very slowly in reaching this critical
goal.
We support the department’s programme directed at improving public
transport in 13 major cities, with a budget of R5,5 billion this
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financial year. We complement the two cities, Johannesburg and Cape
Town, for having already constructed 20 km of bus lane. However, we
want to say, Minister, watch this project very closely. In some
instances, small operators are excluded, marginalised or crowded out
of the existing network at the expense of those future taxi and
minibus operations. The department must enforce the integration of
modes as a condition in all the major cities.
Whether you are speaking about the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s
Libhongo Lethu Pilot Project or about those cities that are in the
planning stages, the integration of the public transport network
system should not be compromised. The department has assured us that
this will not happen but we need clear standards that could
constrain deviation from the implementing agency or sphere of
government.
As we implement, we should keep in mind that “Moving South Africa
Forward” is our commitment. We should remember that the minibus taxi
industry transports 65% of working people and generates around
R2,5 billion annually on passenger trips into cities and on
interprovincial transportation. So, that industry’s centrality
remains critical as a formal, regulated and safe mode of transport.
Equally important is the programme that deals with civil aviation.
Minister, good work is noticeable, particularly the impressive
record of safety standard compliance. South Africa’s air transport
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is ranked among the best in the world. This is applaudable because
this boosts our image in the sector, especially at the international
stage. We support all these efforts. We believe that going into the
future, much attention should be given to the question of
accessibility to all South Africans.
The transformation hereof remains a critical goal to be achieved. We
commend the work done to upgrade Mthatha Airport. However, the
upgrading of all other airport infrastructure across the country
needs close monitoring. As we proceed, air transport connectivity to
the North West remains a challenge. This hampers the speedy movement
of people and goods between the said province and neighbouring
provinces. At this stage it is not very clear whether this will be
realised in the short term or medium term but we are hopeful that
the Minister will pay attention to this matter.
The matter of air transport to connect South Africa with the other
regional economies has improved over time. For our integration and
development in the continent, we support the continued work in this
regard. As we endeavour to move our country forward, we call on the
Minister to investigate the matter of sustainable, affordable and
economically viable air transport on how to open the markets for
more participation by all South Africans, black and white. It is
high time for radical transformation of this sector and for skilling
black South Africans to become experts in the field of aviation. The
ANC supports this budget. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
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Adv A D ALBERTS: Hon Chair and hon Minister, you have noted a list
of some notable successes on your side and we acknowledge that, but
we need to address important problems as well.
Minister, openbare vervoer is steeds baie gebrekkig en word sonder
behoorlike planne uitgevoer. ’n Holistiese vervoerplan is
uiteindelik nodig om aan Suid-Afrika se behoeftes te voldoen. ’n
Voorbeeld van sodanige skewe beplanning is dat die Minister in ’n
geskrewe antwoord aan my oor die sinvolheid van die e-tolstelsel
aangedui het dat die e-tolstelsel motoriste sal dwing om gebruik te
maak van openbare vervoer.
In reaksie daarop is die vraag, watter openbare vervoer? Openbare
vervoer vir arm gemeenskappe is onveilig en amper nie-bestaande vir
die middelklas en diegene in die platteland. Daar is ook ’n
nasionale vervoerreguleerder nodig om alle fooie te reguleer tot
voordeel van die gebruiker, insluitende die fooie vir e-tolpaaie en
ander tolpaaie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Minister, public transport remains very poor and is implemented
without proper planning. A holistic transport plan is actually
needed to meet South Africa’s needs. An example of such distorted
planning is that in a written reply on the sense of the e-tolling
system the Minister indicated that the e-tolling system would force
people to make use of public transport.
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In reaction to that there is the question, what public transport?
Public transport for poor communities is unsafe and it is almost
non-existent for the middle class and those in the rural areas. A
national transport regulator is also needed to regulate all the fees
to the benefit of the consumer, including the fees for e-toll roads
and other toll roads.]
I wish to address three huge problems that are facing the
department. The first problem arose due to poor planning and the
lack of proper public consultation, known as the infamous e-tolls.
The hugely expensive toll system carries no legitimacy in the eyes
of the public. The ANC in government is faced with tax revolt as
people have resolved not to pay e-tolls. Apparently, the SA National
Roads Agency has now appointed two prosecutors to investigate
possible prosecution of nonpayers. The trouble with this strategy is
that the ANC will further alienate road users and will face new
constitutional challenges arising from those arrests.
Further to this, one has to ask why Sanral is not instituting legal
action against the e-toll construction companies that colluded to
keep prices artificially high. The SA Competition Commission has
already given Sanral the green light, yet Sanral is only interested
in prosecuting the regular person. Surely Sanral could claim a
substantial amount back of the e-toll capital expenses if they
prosecuted those construction firms. The question is, why not? Why
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prosecute the public when those companies have stolen from the
public purse? That needs to be investigated.
Die tweede probleem het ontstaan weens die wanbestuur van Transnet
se pensioenfondse, wat nou gelei het tot ’n eis van by die
R85 miljard teen Transnet en die regering. Dit is die grootste
regseis in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika. Sou die eis slaag, kan
Transnet geen een van sy beplande uitbreidingsprogramme voltooi nie
weens ’n gebrek aan geld en weens ’n gebrek aan kredietstatus.
Daardie hofsaak begin volgende Maandag. (Translation of Afrikaans
paragraph follows.)
[The second problem came about through the mismanagement of
Transnet’s pension funds, which has now led to a claim of around R85
billion against Transnet and the government. This is the biggest
legal claim in South African history. Should this claim succeed,
Transnet will be unable to complete any of its planned development
programmes because of a lack of money and a lack of credit status.
That court case starts next Monday.]
Hon Minister, the third problem is the state’s patent inability to
adhere to its own laws, like the Administrative Adjudication of Road
Traffic Offences, Aarto. The testing of this Act in Johannesburg and
Pretoria has failed dismally on many fronts. For instance, the metro
police have usurped the role of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency
and they intimidate the public to pay illegal fines to the
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Johannesburg council, while illegally blocking the issuance of
licences based on outstanding, yet illegal fines.
Minister, dit is dalk goeie advies om eers die basiese reg te kry
voordat ambisieuse projekte, soos die e-tolstelsel en Aarto - die
Administratiewe Beregtiging van Padverkeersmisdrywe. – wat tot dusver
net kaders en korrupte amptenare ryk gemaak het, aangepak word.
Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Minister, it may be good advice to get the basics right first,
before tackling ambitious projects such as the e-tolling system and
Aarto – the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences –
which up to now has only enriched cadres and corrupt officials.
Thank you.]
Ms S P BOSHIELO: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister,
hon members, members of executive councils and of departments of
transport from the provinces, distinguished guests, officials of the
department and public entities, where I come from there is a saying
that goes:
Tau tša hloka seboka di šitwa ke nare e hlotša. [United we stand;
divided we fall.]
In simple terms it means that together we will move South Africa
forward. Poverty, inequality and unemployment still affect the lives
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of our people. The ANC government is committed to working with our
people to address these challenges and move South Africa further
forward towards the achievement of the Freedom Charter. In terms of
the National Development Plan and Vision 2030, South Africa needs to
invest in a strong network of economic infrastructure designed to
support economic and social objectives. Infrastructure provision
should be more affordable and efficient and also be linked to higher
levels of public investment. To enhance the performance and
efficiency of the transport system or sector, the department
facilitates and co-ordinates a Passenger Rail Agency of South
Africa, Prasa, capital programme, which includes the refurbishment
of rolling stock, the upgrading of signalling systems, increasing
line capacity and extension, as well as improving operational
performance.
Prasa has just completed its long-term national strategic plan, with
a vision that extends to 2050, to map out its role in terms of
developing rail service in rural areas and the integration of the
mainline passenger services and long-distance bus services. This
strategy forms part of the country-wide travel demand needs, based
on existing demand information, in order to update the proposal for
the metropolitan areas plus long-distance bus services. It also
identifies key corridors on the rail and bus network, thereby
setting priorities for transport integration and identifying hubs
for investment and development activities. This clearly indicates
and confirms that Prasa and the Department of Transport understood
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the mandate that was given to the ANC by the overwhelming majority
of our people in the last election.
Rail is the backbone of the public transport system. Many of our
people use rail as their primary mode of transport, both as daily
commuters and long-distance travellers, because of the affordability
and the role that it plays in the migration pattern of employment in
various sectors. Our people still travel from urban areas to home in
the rural areas at month-end and for holidays. Actually, the traffic
congestion in most cities decreases and also improves during school
and public holidays.
Re ya gae go ikhutša ge dikolo di tswaletšwe. Ke maikhutšo a
setšhaba. [We travel home during school holidays. It is a holiday
time for many people.]
We are very happy that there are plans to develop rail in the
previously disadvantaged areas. The Department of Transport and
Prasa should be commended in this regard. [Applause.] The following
developments are in the pipeline and, as the portfolio committee, we
will motivate for the department to be allocated more funds in order
to realise these developments: The Limpopo Rail Plan, which has
almost been finalised and will include the possibility of speed rail
between Musina and Johannesburg; the N8 Rail Development Corridor in
the Free State, which will link Kimberley, Thaba Nchu, Mangaung and
Maseru; the possibility of linking Kimberley in the Northern Cape
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and Mahikeng in North West; and the linking of Queenstown to Mthatha
in the Eastern Cape.
The following rail expansions have also been prioritised: the Moloto
rail link, the Bara link, the Motherwell rail link and the King
Shaka Airport link. [Applause.] These developments will also go hand
in hand with station developments in order to improve service
quality and bring back dignity to our people. Proper shades,
ablution facilities and waiting areas will be improved to avoid long
queues and exposing our passengers to harsh weather conditions.
There are also challenges in this sector and they need to be
addressed in order to further improve service quality. There is a
problem with service reliability, with departure times and
punctuality, as well as with co-ordinated timetables. Sometimes
trains arrive at destinations in the early hours when there is no
transport to take people further. We must also improve on the first
leg and last leg of the integrated transport - how people get to the
rail service and how they go back. We also need to improve our
technology, including an integrated ticketing system. We need to
deal with the issue of speed and the dwelling times between
stations, as well as with the problem of interfacing with Transnet.
There is also a shortage of skills and too much use being made of
consultants because of this shortage of skills. I am happy because
the department has put forward a programme to decrease the use of
consultants and increase the skills base.
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The department will also be finalising various rail-related policies
and strategies in this financial year. Key among them is the
National Rail Safety Strategy. The aim of this strategy is to
regulate and enhance rail transport safety. Most of the accidents
are due to human error and theft of cables. We call upon the
Minister of Police to assist the department and bring these culprits
to book because many lives are lost due to this recklessness.
There is also an urgent need to assist our provinces and
municipalities to complete their Provincial Land Transport
Frameworks and Integrated Transport Plans in line with the
provisions of the National Land Transport Act. Consultants are
taking our provinces and municipalities for a ride because they just
cut and paste plans from one province to another. In Limpopo you
will find a plan devised for uMgungundlovu in KwaZulu-Natal.
The department made the undertaking that they would assist our
provinces and municipalities. The integrated rapid public transport
networks, IRPTNs, have also improved public transport, especially in
Johannesburg and Cape Town, where it is called MyCiTi. I do not know
why our colleagues from the opposite side are not commending the ANC
government for the Rea Vaya bus rapid transport system. It is the
ANC government that is doing that. [Applause.]
The ANC government will continue to invest in the upgrading and
expansion of the country’s rail and road infrastructure to create
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jobs and reduce unemployment. Local manufacturing of new rolling
stock will create 8 088 direct job opportunities and the
implementation of other transport projects will develop more work
opportunities. New jobs will also be created in the transport sector
by facilitating and implementing a Blue Economy Business Model. This
will be done by altering the way in which we run our industrial
processes and tackle resultant environmental problems, refocusing
from the use of rare and high cost energy resources to instead seek
solutions based on simpler and cleaner technology.
I am also surprised that our colleagues on the opposite side are not
commenting on the “big five” companies that were found by the
Competition Commission to be colluding over prices when dealing with
road construction. [Applause.] They do not say anything about it
because maybe they are getting a donation from them. I think our
government is working more to improve public transport and it is
high time that our colleagues from the opposite side must come and
ride with us to improve the public transport system.
The department is geared towards improving our public transport
system. The Minister and the Deputy Minister take their time to
brief the portfolio committee on their plans and on what to do. We
are very happy that they have the interests of the department and of
South Africa at heart. Together we will do more. Thank you,
Chairperson. [Applause.]
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Mrs E K M MASEHELA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy
Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, comrades and
compatriots, good evening.
Re lotšhitše. [Good day.]
One of the immediate priorities of the ANC-led government when it
came into power in 1994 was to redress the imbalances of the past
and, in particular, to improve the quality of life of the poor. The
Department of Transport has thus been given a clear mandate to
provide safe, reliable, effective, efficient and fully integrated
transport operations that best meet the needs of all passengers. The
department is also mandated to provide infrastructure and services
that are efficient and affordable. In order for the department to be
equal to this mandate, it needs an efficient administration.
In transforming the department, compliance in employment equity
becomes the key element. Indeed, there is compliance with the
requirements of equity in almost all areas. Out of a total of 613
filled posts, 44,5% are males, 55,5% are females and 1,8% are people
with disabilities. By the way, the target is 2%. We are getting
there. However, out of 150 senior management positions filled, 61%
are males and 38% are females. We are appealing to the department to
work hard in redressing this situation. At present, vacant posts are
at 25,4%. For the department to be effective, all vacant posts
should be filled with immediate effect, especially the post of
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director-general. Personnel should also be continuously capacitated
to ensure efficiency.
Of the total budget of the Department of Transport, 96% is in the
form of transfers to provinces, local government and entities. We
thus need adequate and efficiently skilled human resources in the
department and entities. This will ensure that the transfers are
done timeously and the department will be in the position to closely
monitor and evaluate their use. The department should also monitor
whether funding allocations are used for the intention they are
allocated for. At present, 20,8% was transferred during the first
quarter. This indicates that the department is on track in moving
South Africa forward.
The department is spending 1,2% on employees and we want to take
this opportunity to commend them as this will ensure that service
delivery is taken care of.
In his reply during the debate on the state of the nation address,
the President indicated that there was a need for Batho Pele
principles to be revitalised. This is indeed key to the department
in its interaction with provinces, local government, entities and
many other stakeholders.
Expenditure on the use of consultants and professional services has
declined by 30,7%. In order to limit the use of consultants, it is
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important for the administration to have personnel that is equal to
the task. The administration should therefore provide leadership,
strategic management and administrative support in line with
appropriate legislation. We are going to monitor the use of
consultants by the department, and where consultants have been used,
we will ascertain whether there has been value for money and,
importantly, if there has been any transfer of skill to the
department’s employees. [Applause.]
I am from a rural village or a rural community. People are talking
about rural transport but they have never been there. During the
apartheid regime, we used to have one bus that would take us to town
at eight o’clock and we would have to wait for the same bus to take
us back home at three o’ clock. Even those who came very early by
train from Gauteng province to Limpopo would have to wait and hang
around until three o’clock for them to go back home. So, a lot has
been done since then. [Applause.]
The department has to target the local municipalities as the
strategic sphere of government that implements a lot of projects but
in most cases lacks capacity to ensure capacity building.
In conclusion, the ANC supports the Budget Vote of the Department of
Transport, because it will indeed assist in moving South Africa
forward. I thank you. [Applause.]
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Mr C H H HUNSINGER: Hon House Chairperson, hon members, the hon
Minister has an exciting assignment in Transport. It would be
instrumental in what hon President Zuma described as an opportunity
to embark on radical socioeconomic transformation. Referring to the
National Development Plan, the President was clear in announcing
that “the economy takes centre stage in this programme”. This is
indeed where Transport should take its position - at centre stage.
This requires new thinking, with innovative approaches, and not more
of the same, as in the past.
My input on the current state of transport seeks to reflect pride in
our country, an aspiration to compete globally and a deep concern
for what we do with the revenue collected from our citizens. The
concerns that millions of people are facing is echoed by a spectrum
of economic indicators, like low GDP rates, a high Gini coefficient,
poor foreign direct investment, dwindling business confidence and
unstable inflation. The decline in many of these indicators can be
associated with the need to improve our transport infrastructure so
as to better connect business to markets, transfer goods and unlock
the country’s economic potential.
Most of the department’s key performance indicators are congested
with phrases such as “the development of various strategies”, “the
review of various strategies” and “the establishment of various
regulators”. These do not reflect smart principles and, ultimately,
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do not hold the promise of change for the commuter, taxi driver,
business and international partners.
Initiatives like the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading,
VPUU, project in Harare, Khayelitsha are prime examples of
integrated planning allowing for better pedestrian access and
connecting commuters to a variety of transport options that include
car, bus, taxi and rail at the Kuyasa, Chris Hani and Khayelitsha
transport interchanges. In contrast to this, we have been waiting
for the Moloto Rail since 2003.
John F Kennedy said: “Efforts and courage are not enough without
purpose and direction.” Governance should be measured by the
promises that were kept and not by the best-sounding ideas. Simply
put: Solution should follow and speak to the problem. In this
regard, there is a serious disconnect on various levels and spheres
in transport. Key to this is to honour public participation and
inclusive opinion.
As a caring party, the DA is upset that unsafe vehicles are still
transporting children to school and that taxi drivers have no
employment contracts. Why must we argue and fight to get funding for
alternative roads or e-tolls, especially when trucks cause the most
damage to these municipal back roads? Why don’t we save the money
and simply bring the trucks back to the main tolled road and let
them drive for free? This is an example of how you can align the
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principles of the NDP to infrastructure and economic development and
growth.
Hon members, what happened to the dial-a-pothole campaign? Did
anybody answer? The S’hamba Sonke conditional grant, which was
launched in 2011 to do exactly this, has been diluted to what was
described last week, on 8 July 2014 as, “There is only R9,6 billion
currently available.” Government is breaking cars, taxis, buses and
trucks due to unmaintained roads. Rather, fuel levies should be
ring-fenced for the construction and maintenance of roads.
With over R240 billion collected since 1998, instead of spending
this money on roads, it has been blown on fire pools in Nkandla and
private flights around the world for certain Cabinet colleagues. In
the interest of improving services and the public’s experience of
public transport services, more must be done towards better
structure and to integrate existing taxi services into programmes
designed to improve the safety and reliability of public transport.
In the DA-run Western Cape, around 100 minibus taxi drivers will be
trained to operate a new MyCiTi bus route in Khayelitsha, Mitchells
Plain and Cape Town. We are also in need of better management
institutions to govern our roads. The proposed Road Accident Benefit
Fund Scheme Bill, in its draft form, is a prime example of silo
thinking. For example, against the current deficit of R49 billion,
it is estimated that the current staff component of 2 513 – which
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has grown at a rate of 17,1% to R996 million in 2013-14 – will
increase to well over 2 800. In other words, about R404 million will
be spent on an additional staff component of about 300 people.
Government should be limiting our public sector wage bill and not
rapidly adding to it.
Now, in keeping with the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill, clause
35 effectively deprives foreigners who are not ordinarily residents
of South Africa, for instance tourists, from receiving a temporary
or long-term income benefit. Excluding such persons is not good for
our image as a tourist destination and will deter crucial
international investment and interaction.
We welcome the extension of the deadline for comment on this Road
Accident Benefit Scheme Bill to 31 July 2014. Our engagement and
consultation with stakeholders have caused much concern and we will
argue strongly in favour of wide public participation, especially
because of the potentially negative impacts of this Bill.
Lastly, it is necessary for the Minister to consider ways of better
co-operation between the three spheres of government. Too often the
experience is that national government takes a top-down approach to
governance. Taking away the Division of Revenue Act funding when
municipalities and provincial administrations cannot spend the money
hits our people - not the officials and political gatekeepers who
are mainly responsible.
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Mobility determines the level of access to opportunity. If
individuals don’t have the freedom of movement, they cannot take
advantage of these opportunities. The Department of Transport needs
to get its act together so that we can create the environment that
is necessary to grow the economy and create jobs. I thank you.
[Applause.]
Mr M P SIBANDE: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon members, our
guests in the gallery ...
... ngaphambi kokuba kuyiwe okhethweni bekunamaqembu aphikisayo
abelokhu engcolisa igama likaMongameli uZuma kodwa ebe ebhekise ngqo
ku-ANC. I-ANC ibilokhu iqophe eqolo kuhle okonwabu luphokophele
phambili; ayizange ikugqize qakala lokho. Kwazise phela ukuthi
abadala bayasho ukuthi ichalaha lesimaku sikamesisi siyayigijimisa
futhi siyayikhonkotha imoto egijimayo emgaqweni. Kodwa-ke uma leyo
moto ima isimaku sikamesisi siyayekela singabesisakhonkotha kodwa
sichamela amasondo aleyo moto. [Uhleko.] Lokho kusobala kuhle
kwezinqe zeselesele ukuthi uKhongolose nguye kuphela ogijimayo
osebenzayo nokwazi ukuguqula izimpilo zabantu bonke bakule ngabadi,
ngisho nakubantu baseNtshonalanga Kapa imbala nabo bayahlomula
emvuzweni wezithelo zikaKhongolose. Noma kunjalo-ke kodwa izimfamona
zilokhu zimgxeka nhlangothi zonke.
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Baphume bonke abantu baseNingizimu ngosuku lokhetho kuhle kukaZulu
eya eMakheni ukuyovotela uKhongolose. Ihlaya elikhulu ukuthi yize
noma onkabi babesimbathekisa i-ANC bezama ngazo zonke izindlela
ukuheha abavoti. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[... before elections some opposition parties made it their mission
to ruin the reputation of President Zuma and that of the ANC. The
ANC just carried on as usual and pretended not to notice what was
happening. It is true that a dog will always bark at a moving car
but when it stops, the dog stops barking and urinates on its wheels
instead. [Laughter.] It is obvious that the ANC is the only party
that is working hard to change people’s lives in this country. Even
residents of the Western Cape benefit from the efforts of the ANC.
The jealous parties though continue to criticise it despite all of
what it has achieved.
The South African public came out in numbers to vote for the ANC on
the voting day. This was despite the fact that opposition parties
were working against the ANC and trying to lure voters to vote for
them.]
The worst part is that there are parties that are politically
bankrupt ...
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... aphenduke amaqola kwezepolitiki azama nokweba uMongameli
uMandela, i-Freedom Charter, imibala kanye nezingoma ze-ANC. I-DA
zolo lokhu ibikade ihamba izinkantolo imangalela i-ANC ngezingoma
zayo kodwa-ke okushaqisayo ukuthi uma ziculwa yibona akulona icala.
Abantu akufuneki bakhohlwe ukuthi amaculo ka-ANC anomlando nokuthi
aculwa nini futhi uma kwenzenjani. Iningi lalawo maqembu abelokhu
eninda ukhongolose ngodaka kule Ndlu yesiShayamthetho asephenduke
umgodi onganukwanja amanye asenciphile. Amanye awo aphelele obala
kuhle kwezithukuthuku zenja ngoba amalungu awo awalaxaze phansi
kuhle kwamafinyila. Ngisho nakuwo amaqembu aphikisayo akhona kule
Ndlu ngokhetho abuye nenduku yombangandlala, elambatha. Ziwe
izihlathi zathi dedelele ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraph
follows.)
[... they have turned into political thieves and tried to steal
President Mandela, the Freedom Charter and the colours and songs of
the ANC. The DA recently took the ANC to court complaining about
some of the ANC’s songs but what we do not understand is that when
they are the ones singing the songs they see nothing wrong with it.
The public must never forget that the songs of the ANC have a
history and they are sung at special occasions. Most of the parties
that criticised the ANC have now lost popularity and their party
membership has shrunk considerably. Some of them are dissolving
because their members have abandoned them. Opposition parties
present in this House were hopelessly defeated and disappointed ...]
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Mr S J MASANGO: Chair, I rise on a point of order.
Mr M P SIBANDE: What order? [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members. What is
your point of order, hon member?
Mr S J MASANGO: Chairperson, the member is not speaking to the
Budget Vote. He is totally out of order. [Interjections.]
Mr M P SIBANDE: It is my maiden speech, Chairperson.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon members!
[Interjections.] Order! Hon member, that is not a point of order.
Mr S J MASANGO: Chair, we are speaking about ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, take your seat.
Let us allow the hon Sibande to continue.
Mr M P SIBANDE: Kuhle kwamawolitshi amuncwe umsoco kwazise phela
ukuthi ayihlabi ngakumisa. [They are like oranges whose juice has
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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been squeezed out. It is true that empty vessels make the most
noise.]
Allow me to advise some parties in this august House that they must
learn to listen and to be disciplined - Agang SA in particular.
There is a song by The Manhattans, titled Kiss and say goodbye.
Elungeni layo elikule Ndlu liboqaphela nalo ngoba i-DA izolimanqaza
ngo-kiss nalo ligcine ngokushabalala kule Ndlu kuhle komholi walo
uDokotela uRamphele. [Uhleko.]
Sihlalo, uMnu De Freitas we-DA ukhuluma ngephuzu lokuqala nelesibili
uthi kufuneka kuncishiswe isabiwomali sikaNqgongqoshe. Naku
okufuneka akucabange, yikuthi uhulumeni osiphethe akafani nalo
hulumeni awaziyo. Lo hulumeni okhona uyilungu le-SADC ne-Brics;
angazi yini noma kunosomlingo amaziyo yini ozothengela uNgqongqoshe
umshanyelo andize ngawo. [Uhleko.]
Izolo loku iNtshonalanga Kapa njengesifundazwe isebenzise
izigidigidi zamarandi ezeqile kwezingama-30 ikhokhela abeluleki.
Ngibuyele kubab’uMulaudzi; Bab’u Mulaudzi unenkinga. Ubuyiphoyisa
lomgwaqo kepha angikhumbuli nangelanga elilodwa wenza izincomo
ngalezi ndlela ozibonayo namhlanje ukuthi kumele kwenziweni ngazo –
ubuthulile. Ngiyaqonda Ngqongqoshe uBab’uMaludzi akalaleli.
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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UNgqongqoshe ngenkathi ekhuluma ngeMoloto Corridor ukuthi ixhumana
nabantu basemakhaya, kanjalo ne-Gauteng Metro waphinda futhi
wakhuluma ngoHlelo iSihamba Sonke ephendula izinkinga zasemakhaya.
[Ubuwelewele.]
Inkinga kaMnu Mulaudzi ukuthi mhlawumbe into emenza ukuthi izindlebe
zingavuleki yingoba ukhohlwe ukugqoka i-ovaloli ebovu, nomakalapa
namabhuzu. [Uhleko.] Bab’uMulaudzi zizibona amaphiko ukundiza kanti
azindizi zonke.
KuMongameli ngithi: Wena ngane kamaMzobe, wena Gedleyihlekisa abantu
baseNingizimu Afrika bayabonga futhi bayaziqhenya ngawe nenhlangano
kaKhongolose! Bathi ngokuphuma kwabo ngobuningi baye okhethweni
kuyinkomba yokuthi kuyiqiniso elimsulwa ukuthi izolo alifani
nanamuhla. Nabanye bentsha bayakhohlwa ukuthi izolo belikhona
nokuthi ikusasa lizoba khona.
Kuhumeni oholwa nguMsholozi sibuyile isithunzi somuntu ompisholo!
[Ihlombe.] Abantu baseMpumalanga e-Bethal bazibona bephephile
abasenalo uvalo lokuthi bazobulawa benziwe umanyolo wokuvundisa
amasimu amazambane wogombela kwesabo. Abantu baKwaZulu-Natali,
eMsinga endaweni yaseNhlesi, bebengakwazi ukuwela umfula iNhlesi uma
ugcwele ugola izintethe, ikakhulukazi izingane zesikole bezingakwazi
ukufinyelela esikoleni kodwa namuhla izakhamuzi kanye nezingane
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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zesikole ziyaziqhenya ngoba uhulumeni oholwa uKhongolose ubakhele
ibhuloho. [Ihlombe.]
Abantu abasebenzayo abagibela izitimela zinsuku zonke uma beya
emsebenzini sebegibela ngokuphepha abasenalo uvalo lokuthi
bangahlaselwa noma yinini. Izakhamuzi eziningi ebezikhanyisa
ngobhaqa futhi zipheka ngembawula sekuyiphupho kwazise uhulumeni
oholwa yi-ANC uyanakekela, usufake ugesi ezindaweni eziningi ngisho
nasemijondolo imbala. Izindawo ezisemaphandleni seziphenduke
amadolobha amancane. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[I want to warn the member of Agang SA present in this House about
the DA. He or she might be kissed and end up disappearing from this
House like the party’s leader, Dr Ramphele. [Laughter.]
Chairperson, Mr De Freitas of the DA is talking about the first and
the second point where he says that the Budget of the Minister
should be decreased. He must understand that the government that we
have now is not like the one that was in power before.. This
government is a member of SADC and Brics. I do not know if he knows
of any magician who will buy the Minister a magic broom to fly.
[Laughter.]
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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Not so long ago the Western Cape utilised more than 30 million rand
on consultants. Coming back to Mr Mulaudzi: Mr Mulaudzi you have a
problem. You were a traffic policeman but I do not recall you
raising any of the issues that you are raising today then – you were
so quiet. I understand, Minister, that Mr Mulaudzi does not listen.
When the Minister talked about the Moloto corridor, the Gauteng
Metro and the Sihamba Sonke Project reaching rural communities and
solving their transport problems... [Interjections.]
I think Mr Mulaudzi would understand what we are saying much better
if he were wearing overalls, a helmet and working boots. [Laughter.]
Mr Mulaudzi, not all of us who think they are capable can actually
achieve our goals; some of us are bound to fail.
To the President I am saying: to you, Mamzobe’s son, to you,
Gedleyihlekisa, people of South Africa are grateful and are proud of
you and the ANC! Their turning out in numbers at voting stations was
an indication that they understand what the party has done for them.
Some of our youth do not understand that their yesterday is
different from the kind of future that awaits them.
The dignity of the black person has been restored by the government
led by Msholozi! [Clan name.] Residents of Bethal in Mpumalanga now
feel safe and are no longer under threat that they will be killed
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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and their bodies turned into the manure that is used to fertilise
the potato fields of the rich. Residents of Msinga, in the area of
Nhlesi in KwaZulu-Natal could not cross the Nhlesi River when it was
flooding. Schoolchildren could not even reach school and the area’s
residents and schoolchildren are proud that the ANC-led government
has built a bridge for them. [Applause.]
Commuters who take trains to work every day now feel safe and are no
longer afraid of getting attacked at any time. Residents who
previously had no access to electricity now do and this is an
indication of how much the ANC-led government cares. Most areas,
even shack dwellings, now have access to electricity. Rural areas
have now turned into small towns.]
You can take the person out of the bush, but you cannot take the
bush out of the person.
Kuyihlazo elinyantisa igazi uma kule Ndlu yesiShayamthetho
kusenabantu abazibiza ngokuthi bangabaholi bengazi ukuthi nanoma
siyizinhlangano ezahlukene ... [It is such a disgrace that in this
Legislative House some of the so-called leaders still do not
understand that even though we belong to different political parties
...]
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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... the country has one President, who is elected by the people. A
few days ago, there was a report about the condition of President
Zuma’s health. One of the opposition party leaders responded ...
... ngokuthi kunokuba abengcono isifo esimphethe masiqhubeke
sidlange ngamandla. [... that he wished his bad health condition to
worsen.]
I would like to quote Malcolm X, who said:
Don't be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do
or think as you think, or as fast. There was a time when you
didn’t know what you know today.
The Freedom Charter says, “There shall be houses, security and
comfort.” Of course, the ANC is the only organisation that is
committed to improving the lives of people and the conditions in
which they will live comfortably. It is also committed to ensuring
easy access to public transport.
During the previous term, the DA’s policy did not fundamentally
oppose the infrastructure development, which involved e-tolls. Their
fear is around the following: In Limpopo, the DA does not want the
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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government to improve or upgrade any road because they do not want
the roads to be conducive to our communities undertaking the
pilgrimage to or attending church in Moria.
Uma sikhuluma ngokuthuthukiswa kwezindawo zasemakhaya, abafuni
intuthuko iye kwezinye izifundazwe yingakho belokhu bekhuluma
ngeNkandla. [When we discuss rural development they do not want that
to happen in the other provinces and that is why Nkandla is always
the subject of their discussions.]
No one has ever unpacked the issue of Nkandla to indicate the budget
for hospitals, clinics and roads. The ANC was the only organisation
that indicated that somewhere figures in the budget were inflated.
To an extent, some conservative media people always give negative
statistics about the actual pilgrimage turnout.
Ukube bengizenzela, Ngqongqoshe ngabe isabiwomali sinikezwa izindawo
zonke zasemakhaya zangaphambilini. Ngisazokhuluma ngayo i-DA. [If I
could, Minister, I would allocate more funds for the development of
rural areas. I am still going to talk about the DA.]
Regarding the taxi industry, the DA does not want to see any
development in infrastructure, such as roads, because roads are
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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dominated by people from the disadvantaged black communities.
Therefore ... [Interjections.] Like you!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order, hon member!
Mr Z M D MANDELA: Chair, I rise on a point of order.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): What is your point of order,
hon member?
Mr Z M D MANDELA: Chair, I want to know whether it is parliamentary
for an hon member to say to another hon member that they are talking
nonsense. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon member, you are not the
Presiding Officer. I will make the ruling. I heard what the member
said. Hon member, will you withdraw the remark, please?
An HON MEMBER: I withdraw, Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you, hon member.
Please continue, hon Sibande.
EPJ 15 JULY 2014
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Mr M P SIBANDE: The taxi industry is dominated by people from the
disadvantaged black community. The DA knows that if there is an
improvement in the conditions within which black-dominated
businesses operate, the gap between the haves and the have-nots will
quickly close. [Interjections.] I did not disturb you when you were
talking about the same issue!
The DA’s motto for blacks is Hlala kwabafileyo [let the dead remain
with the dead]. That is their mind-set. To an extent, they wanted to
support e-tolls. Thank you. [Time expired.]
The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Hon Chairperson, I just want to refer a
little bit to my earlier speech and to what I said, as part of the
conclusion, when I gave an indication that we are busy crafting the
National Transport Master Plan. We believe that this information about how cities develop, how older cities are going to grow and how
the population will actually move to different parts of the country
from the rural areas - needs us to be able to respond to it.
This is exactly what informed Cabinet when we presented the National
Transport Master Plan and had it sent back - just on the eve of the
adoption of the National Development Plan. It would have been wrong
for us to have a National Transport Master Plan, Natmap, which is
not aligned to the National Development Plan. [Applause.] You must
also remember that Natmap is actually speaking to transport
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infrastructure, which is intended to follow the assumptions for the
growth trajectory of South Africa, as laid out in the National
Transport Master Plan.
It is for that reason that Cabinet also resolved that Natmap must
also find expression in the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee, PICC, which is chaired by the President. We
feel very excited because of the fact that the Department of
Transport’s planning process will also be overseen by this important
programme, which is driven by the President.
I also need to indicate that for the remaining part of this year, we
will introduce the Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill - and I’m sure
the Deputy Minister would have referred to it - the Administrative
Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill, as well as the
National Land Transport Amendment Bill.
I believe that we all know the legislative process, and that these
will ultimately get to this Parliament. This will allow us, as well
as our entity, the Road Accident Fund, to continue with public
consultation and get the necessary public comments. We want maximum
participation and that is why we want this Road Accident Benefit
Scheme Bill to go through our provinces. [Applause.] We don’t want
only certain people to be beneficiaries of the Road Accident Fund
Benefit Scheme. We want to make sure that we are able to respond to
the needs of our people. Many pedestrians and other road users die
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on the roads, leaving orphans, widows and widowers who are at
present destitute and are cramming and crowding the services of the
SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, and the Department of Social
Services.
There are people in South Africa whose hopes have been dashed
because parents have died in the carnage on the roads. We believe
that the Road Accident Fund Benefit Scheme will bring about a
situation where we can safely say this is the curb. But we also know
of people who have been cashing in greatly. It is painful in this
South Africa to find that we have a social security net - the Road
Accident Fund - that actually says the child of a poor man or woman
who dies on the road - because the mother was a domestic worker and
the level of income or financial loss is meagre - does not qualify
for the money that would have taken them out of poverty. They are
forgetting that the only thing these domestic workers and gardeners
think about is to get their children out of poverty and be a
catalyst for the eradication of poverty. [Applause.] We believe that
this is one way of radically transforming the programmes of
government to benefit the poorest of the poor so that we would then
be able to alleviate the pressures they are facing.
I also want to indicate to you that as a department we have achieved
good financial standing in the past financial year and we are
working towards achieving a clean audit opinion in this current
financial year too. We want to say that we are committed to that.
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Everything that we presented to you today is not the work of an
individual but of Team Transport. I therefore wish to take this
opportunity to thank the President and the Presidency for the
honour, trust, support and guidance that they have given us in this
work. We also want to thank Cabinet colleagues and the MECs of Roads
and Transport in the provinces for their collaboration and support.
I have seen many of the MECs, including the MEC who is the Deputy
Chairperson of the Shareholder Committee of the Road Transport
Management Co-operation, MEC Butana Komphela. We are working
together quite effectively with our MECs and we want to make sure
that the resources we devolve to provinces can be used to meet the
demands of our people.
I also want to thank the Deputy Minister for her co-operation,
collaboration, support and team spirit. Our sincere gratitude also
goes to the committee chairperson and the Portfolio Committee on
Transport for their guidance and support. We pledge to work together
with the Portfolio Committee on Transport in moving South Africa
forward. We also wish to acknowledge the work being done by the
department with the provinces and agencies, under the leadership of
the acting director-general and Team Transport.
As part of presenting the Budget Vote for 2014-15 of the Department
of Transport, let me just remind hon members that MyCiTi is not a
project of the City of Cape Town or the province of the Western
Cape. [Interjections.] You know quite well that the bus rapid
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transport systems, including MyCiTi, have been conceptualised,
managed and funded by the ANC-led government through the national
Department of Transport; through the National Land Transport Act;
the Public Transport Strategy; the National Guidelines on Integrated
Rapid Public Transport Network - which also speaks to BRT - and the
Division of Revenue Act. [Applause.]
I also want to indicate to you that, recognising the historic role
of the taxi industry, we have actually expressed that they should be
centrally located in this BRT system. You would know that we want to
ensure that our people who are operators - and even drivers and
other service providers in the taxi industry - should be able to
graduate from running that small vehicle to a bus and to other
services. We also believe that the taxi industry is going to be
central throughout the transport network. [Applause.]
That is the reason that we are going to be hosting a taxi summit,
where we want to make sure that we discuss and agree with all the
operators on the minimum requirements and national guidelines on BRT
negotiations. We want to make sure that we do not have a system for
the City of Cape Town and a different system for Areyeng, Rea Vaya
or Ibhongo Lethu. We want national standards and we believe this
will be implemented.
I want to thank the hon members from the ANC for reminding us who
brought us here and in whose interests we have been appointed. We
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want to thank the ANC for its drive in making sure that the policy
derived from the ANC is a policy that speaks to the challenges of
our people and makes it possible, even through transport, that we
can create a better life for all. Whatever we are doing, we are
doing it because the ANC said we needed to do it.
I just want to remind hon members that the Moloto Road is not an
initiative that we have been reminded of by the EFF, with their red
overalls forgotten today. It is also an initiative by the ANC,
because the ANC believes that we need to create a platform for our
people to arrive safely at their homes.
The problem also ... [Applause.] There are people in this House whom
we have to follow because of the corrupt activities they did in
their previous employment. [Applause.] [Time expired.]
Debate concluded.
The Committee rose at 21:30.