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Exactly 46 years ago on this day in Kliptown thousands of South Africans gathered together to map out their destiny. Unequivocally, they spelt out their vision of the democratic dispensation they would wish to have and how they would like their aspirations met by the Government they would have voted for, a government based on their will as the people, a government they would have confidence in.

Today, 46 years down the line, as a government based on the will of the people we are here to give an account of how we are progressing in fulfilling that historical, political, as well as socio-economic mission as articulated by the Freedom Charter. We are therefore humbled yet enthused to have to start so important a day in the history of this country in this manner. In that context therefore, we really could not find a better way to celebrate this day.

As spelt out in both the policy speech for the current financial year and the strategic plan, the department has set itself to achieve the following main priorities in the context of Integrated Sustainable Rural Development:

* Make greater impact on infrastructure development
* Make significant strides in alleviating Poverty through poverty alleviation programmes.
* Contribute significantly in programmes and projects aimed at creating job opportunities

The department has made significant progress with respect to the above through a number of programmes including, but not limited to, the following:

* Emergency Reconstruction Programme
* Department/Inhouse Projects
* SANRA Funded Projects
* Poverty alleviation projects under NPWP

The following is an account of what the department has achieved

* Emergency Reconstruction Programme

Under phase one of this programme the first trench of which amounted to R40m, the following projects, among others, have been completed:

* Tsomo - access road from Pagel - Hange
* R56 - Harding/ Umzimkulu road
* T77 Bridge approaching Maluti
* T77 provincial road Maluti
* T70 Maluti; Maluti link road from T646
* T917 from N2 -Cedarville
* T28 - R61 Umtata - Ugie

* Poverty Alleviation Projects Under SANRA - Roads Construction

The following roads, among others, have been completed:

* Kirkwood: DR 2006: 28km
* Steytlerville: MR 408: 41km
* Idutywa: DR08467: 14km
* Cala: DR 078599: 23km
* Tarkastad: DR0558: 15km
* Butterworth: DR 083868: 36km
* Engcobo: DR 08033: 32.7km
* Tsolo: DR 08022: 23,5km
* Matatiele: DR 08452: 11,3km

* This programme has impacted on job creation as follows (local labour)

Males: 907
Females: 440
Youth: 237
Disabled: 004

TOTAL: 1592

* Inhouse Projects

The following are some of the projects that are near completion

* Engcobo to Umtata (Reseal)
* MR 664 Molteno to Sterkstroom

* Disaster relief funds

* Magwala Bridge on R61 (Queenstown - Cofimvaba)
* Qamata River Bridge on T61

* Poverty Alleviation under NPWP

Under this programme the following are some of the completed projects

EG Kei

* Maluti/Mt Fletcher: Zingcuka community garden, market stalls, community Hall
* Umzimkulu: community Hall, Taxi Rank, market stalls
* Hollycross: market stalls, lower Ntafufu crèche
*
Western

Karoo: Pearston piggery, Willowmore crafts stalls

Eastern

* Viegiesville: community garden, community Hall
* Tabase: market stalls, stock water project, community garden

Drakensberg

* Indwe: Ida high school
* Elliot: access road
* Maclear: access road
* Xalanga: Emaqwatini water supply, Cala pass water supply

Stomberg

* Ilinge: fencing, access road
* Mc Bride: irrigation scheme, day care centre
* Bolotwa: irrigation scheme, commonage, dipping tank

Amatole

* Gatyana: Dwesa bulk water supply, cultural centre, access road
* Mountain East: Mgwali Market Park, community garden, dipping tank

The Socio-Economic impact of these projects include, among others, the following:

* The completion of the Magwala Bridge has brought with it a major economic relief to local business including the Taxi industry that have been inconvenienced a great deal by the collapse of this bridge.

* The road from Engcobo to Ugie proceeds through the forestry and Agricultural rich area of Ugie. The economic significance if this development means that people in this area will have access to this heritage thereby exploring and exploiting economic opportunities.

With the achievement that have been registered by the department so far, we believe that major inroads have been made regarding infrastructure development especially in previously disadvantaged and neglected communities. However, there are still some glaring constraints that the department is experiencing in its endeavour to make meaningful impact in the development project in our province. The following constraints can be counted as constituting key among others:

* Low levels of morale from the staff especially in some of the regional offices.
* Lack of coherence as well as shortage of staff within the top management of the department.
* Shortage of technical and professional staff in critical and key positions. However, we have since advertised a number of posts in this regard.

* Future programmes/plans

Despite all the difficulties and constraints that we are facing as the department we are determined to work even harder to improve the lives of the people of this province. In the next five years the department has set itself very high yet achievable goals which include, but not limited to, the following:

* Regravelling programme

* T8, T219, T247: Elangeni forest: 34 km
* DR02824, DR02831: Ugie Farm comm.: 36 km
* MR 700, DR0375: Stutterheim rance Timbers: 51 km
* MR500, DR018048: Central Region: 70 km
* DR1744: Oyster Bay: 49 km

* Fencing Programme

* MR 520: Mount Coke: 20 km
* MR 699: Alice: 30 km
* MR 170: Keiskammahoek: 30 km
* DR 08001: Ngqamakwe: 16 km

* Resealing Programme

* DR 08004: Magusheni - Phakade: 34 km
* DR 05301: A/North - L/Grey: 14,5 km
* DR08522: Q/Town - L/Frere: 8,4 km section

* Upgrading from gravel into surface roads

* Maclear - Mt Fletcer: phase one: 23 km: Phase two: 40 km
* Cala - Eliot: 18 km
* Cala - L/Frere: phase one: 22 km
* Cala - L/Frere: phase two: 30 km

Additional to these programmes there is an amount of R317, 376m set aside for maintenance programme distributed throughout the regions.

* Emerging contractor Development Programme

We shall also be running a development programme for emerging contractors. With this programme we hope to achieve the following:

* Create a reliable data bank by registering all emerging contractors in the province
* Run skills development programmes to equip them.
* Develop support systems and structure for the same.

* Accessing the National Infra Structure Grant (NISG)

As a province with very acute infra - structure backlogs, we have been counted as one the province that should benefit from the NISG. This is the grant introduced by the President to deal with the infra structure needs in the entire country over the next three years.

As a result of this grant, cabinet has approved specific allocations as follows:
2001/02: R147, 275 million
2002/03: R286, 108 million
2003/04: R428, 505 million

In keeping with the requirements of the 2001 Division of Revenue Act, funding requests for the current year have been placed with the National Treasury at the end of April. Consideration for the subsequent years will occur at the end of June this year. We hope that this will go a long in reducing the infra structure backlogs in the province.

Co-ordination of the implementation of all provincial infrastructure programmes including the acceleration of building and rehabilitation of schools, hospitals and clinics therefore becomes very critical and as a department we are really poised with that daunting challenge which we are sure to match up to.

* Emergency Reconstruction Programme

We are now through with phase one of this programme as outlined earlier on in this report. We are now busy with phase two which will be followed by phase three later on.

However, the success of all this relies on a committed civil service corps and the capacity in this regard is being attended.

In conclusion, as we can see that there is so much that has been achieved by the department amidst difficult and testing circumstances. However, a lot more needs to be done and we are determined to achieve everything that we have set ourselves. Together with communities we can achieve more.

Issued by Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape

26 June 2001