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Thank you for inviting me to celebrate the opening of the second toll plaza on the N4, the Machado Toll Plaza.
The Maputo Development Corridor has come a long way: From the vision we had for the investors' conference in 1996 in Maputo, to the tenders that were sent out on the road in April 1996, to the road in front of us today and the start of construction on many of the major infrastructure projects with an investment more than R20 billion in our two countries.
As the outgoing Minister of Transport it is satisfying to see a project move to completion and I hope that you will invite my successor to the opening of the last toll plaza in South Africa, the Nkomazi Toll Plaza at Kaapmuiden, which will be open for traffic before the end of this year.
This project, the largest of its kind in our regional road sector, fulfills not only its core strategic aim of efficiently moving people and goods, but also creates jobs and fosters economic empowerment while looking after an environment.
Like the other Spatial Development Initiatives, a major infrastructure project (such as a road in this case) is being used to create and open up new investment opportunities in an area which was ignored in the past, and which has substantial resources.
The SDI projects are practical examples of how we are using infrastructure as an integral part of the RDP and GEAR. They are also the first steps toward effective regional co-operation and integration.
But central is job creation and empowerment through the development of SMMEs in the construction process. On this contract, associated up- and down-stream industries have created approximately 40 000 indirect jobs and 15 000 induced jobs.
Between the contractor and TRAC, 2,519 jobs have already been created on this project. Of these 665 are permanent positions and 1,854 temporary.
Training and development also plays an important role:
* 2,427 people have been trained in various discipline;
* 800 in basic tendering in SMME contracts;
* 144 in basic health care; and
* 508 in construction skills.
The Development Centre in Machadodorp has trained 135 members of the community and 54 employees and subcontractors in construction skills.
At the Development Centre in Matsulu, 190 members of the community have been trained and 76 employees and subcontractors in construction skills.
In Mo‡ambique at Moamba, first aid and safety courses started in February of this year and it is anticipated that the first construction skills training will start within the next few months.
The training centres provide a wide range of skills which are focussed on three areas:
* Firstly, labour force and construction training (with training modules such as cross-cultural and productivity training, supervisor training, management induction estimating and tendering, employment of labour, planning and organising and basic human resource management).
* Secondly, community development (with training modules such as basic adult training, basic health care, literacy training, basic business skills and life-skills training).
* The third area is maintenance and operations related development (with modules such as industrial relations, customer relations, toll collection, cash and administration, and securities and emergencies).
The training facilities will play a greater role in community development as the Development Centre at Machadodorp will become a basic health care clinic and training centre for health workers after the initial construction phase, and the Matsulu centre is being developed as an arts and culture training and commercial venue.
This will empower the local communities to develop and grow once the construction camps have moved on, and will stand as part of the investment this project has in this area's future.
In the 1998 financial year, R2,285 million was spent on community development and training, and the concession company anticipates that a greater amount will be spent this year.
The public's role in this project is crucial because the fundamental reason for development is to improve the quality of life of people.
To date 158 meetings have been held with different community groups. Regular meetings are held with representatives of working committees and subcommittees dealing with employment, concessions, infrastructure and many other related issues.
This brings me to the issue of tolls. I am aware of the criticism and the protests, and have met the representatives of this area to discuss the issue.
I will be frank with you: government does not have the money for large infrastructure projects. We have inherited an infrastructure backlog of more than R7 billion.
The "user-pay" principle is being increasingly used in our country because it ensures a reliable and speedy delivery of infrastructure and services.
User pays means that the people who directly benefit from the improved infrastructure and services pay for the use of them.
This stream of income allows for the maintenance and growth of the facilities and services without waiting for government to find the funds from all other the pressing social needs in our country, such as education and primary health care.
Because this road operates on the user-pays principle, the customers or road users are important to its success.
To meet customer needs for a safe journey, the N4 has special services to help road users.
For example a rescue service is available, SOS telephones are installed at regular intervals, Road and Traffic Information in different languages over your car radio system is available, 24 hour routine maintenance is done on the road with patrol cars inspecting road conditions and many other services.
The ultimate goal is to ensure safe, reliable and user friendly infrastructure for the travelling public. I am impressed with the safety standards that this road has already established as my Department has been concerned about the rising death toll on Mpumalanga roads.
The infrastructure of any nation is the foundation for overall development. Investment in national infrastructure expresses the economic, social, political and cultural vision of a nation.
This is why this road is special. It is the first cross-border infrastructure on our continent. As we build this road and the Corridor we build a new relationship with our neighbours.
This relationship is built on sustainable economic and social growth. And transport infrastructure is fundamental to it.
I hereby declare the Machado Toll Plaza as open.

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