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12 June 2008

Honourable Madame Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable Premier Dipuo Peters
Members of the Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

Thirty-two years ago today as the school bells fought their way through the cold highveld morning to signal the start of the school day, Hector Peterson was still alive. While school children across South Africa assembled for prayer children at Morris Isaacson High, Tshesele High, Naledi High, Madibane High, Junior High and Vuwani Secondary Schools assembled for a very different reason. Student leaders like Murphy Morobe, Sibongile Mkhabela, David Kutumela and Tsietsi Mashinini and Seth Mazibuko passionately espoused the call to march on a demonic system that had institutionalised the systematic oppression of 18 million South Africans.

A demonic system that had dehumanised a society and polarised a nation along racial lines; a demonic system that reduced brilliant minds to 'garden boys', 'spanner boys' and 'kitchen girls'; a demonic system that had shredded the social fibre by compelling fathers to leave behind their lives in order to work in the dark tunnels like mutated, two-legged fire flies tunnelling wealth from the African soil that would never be theirs; to wash cars they would never drive; to cut trees that would never offer them shelter; to groom dogs that would never know them as master and take children to school where the education system inculcated a perverse hierarchy of values which reduced 18 million South Africans to an acrimonious life of exploitation.

It was a system which blurred the lines between childhood, adolescence and adulthood and forced children to be breadwinners, matriarchs and patriarchs before their time.

All that fuelled these students was the promise of a better life that reverberated from the Freedom Charter. They had no guns except their chests. They had no bullets except their hearts. And, if just for a moment, if their chests could become guns, they would have shot their hearts into the monster called apartheid. Instead, we know that more than 700 children tried failed to avoid the thousands of bullets propelled by hatred that were forged in a factory called racism. No writer can adequately convey the terror and anguish of the parents who waited for their children to return. Words fail to elucidate the screams and sorrowful cries of parents who were told that they would never return.

We cannot allow the dream of these martyrs of liberty, nor the anguish of their parents, to vanish like the vapour of the Orange River as it thunders over the Augrabies Falls.

Their cries which echoed across the fields littered with the dying and wounded cannot be allowed to fall silent; their cries which were muted by the sounds of gunfire cannot be allowed to dishonour service delivery mechanisms, hardship or alienation of individuals who pay no homage to the heroes of the struggle; and who pour contempt on the principles of Ubuntu which seeks to build a society that fosters human solidarity and altruistic patriotism.

It is indeed with great pleasure that I stand before you today and present the 2008/09 Budget Vote Speech of the Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works.

Madame Speaker, when the African National Congress set out its vision for a non-racial society on 8 January 1912, we did not know how long it would take for us to achieve this vision. What we knew was that we would not rest until these ideals were realised.

The 2004 Election Manifesto, under the theme: "A People's Contract to Create Work and Fight Poverty, pays particular attention in:

* Taking in more young people through learnerships so that they can gain skills and work experience for them to access jobs.
* Intervening to ensure the proper functioning of skills development authorities
* creating one million job opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
* Spending over R15 billion to facilitate Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) which benefits communities.
* Intensifying assistance to youth agencies such as the Umsobomvu Youth Fund to provide skills training for employment and self-employment, ensuring implementation of the National Youth Service and assisting unemployed graduates to get work skills.
* Ensuring the involvement of communities in local economic development initiatives to provide work, build community infrastructure and ensuring access to local opportunities, and encouraging the emergence of co-operatives.

Madame Speaker, happily, among our achievements, we have seen an acute improvement in our financial management. The Department had spent 99% of its total budget of R551 million when we closed our books during the previous financial year. Indeed, this is certainly a feather in one's cap Madame Speaker.
This spending was attributed to better planning and the implementation of effective internal control systems by the Department. It is against this background that, in the year leading to the next general elections, we celebrate the success of the Expanded Public Works Programme.

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)

Today, as government, we pride ourselves on the fact that since the Expanded Public Works Programme was announced by President Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation Address in February 2003, 950 000 job opportunities have already been created throughout the country, thereby almost reaching its target of creating 1 million job opportunities in the country.

In the Northern Cape province, the immediate objective of the Expanded Public Works Programme is to create 29 026 work opportunities. To date, province has created 28 583 job opportunities in all the four sectors of EPWP. What this means is that to date, EPWP has achieved 94% of its target on creating employment for the citizenry of the Northern Cape province.

These figures attest to the importance of our interventions in poverty alleviation, job creation, skills development, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship development.

Our projections from January until March this year showed that the infrastructure sector would create an additional 3 014 job opportunities based on the Service Level Agreements that were signed with municipalities across the Northern Cape province. The total amount allocated for EPWP over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework is R366 million.

Additionally, 15 013 jobs which are not EPWP related have been created by all sectors. During the 2004/05 financial year, 948 jobs were created; during the 2005/06 financial year, 7 214 jobs were created; during the 2006/07 financial year 2 279 jobs were created and 4 572 jobs were created during the 2007/08 financial year.

With this in mind, it is vital for me to announce that the National Youth Service (Building Maintenance Programme) is in full swing. Of the 500 beneficiaries of this Presidential Initiative, most of whom are youth, 390 of them are reaping the rewards of this programme. Through the National Youth Service Programme, we aim for a skills revolution of our youth; young people recruited into this programme will also be enrolled with our institutes of higher learning as artisan trainees so that they would further their skills.

The National Youth Service Programme also facilitates exit strategies for those youths upon completion of the programme, at which point they will be issued with accreditation certificates to enable them to seek for future employment opportunities.

Furthermore, those youths who wish to become entrepreneurs and start their own small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) will be introduced to the Umsobomvu Youth Fund programmes designed to assist aspiring entrepreneurs.

Similarly, the Phakamile Mabija Leanership Programme, an EPWP initiative that will soon be launched by the Department in this financial year, is a programme that seeks to support nation-building through involving young people in the delivery of crucial government services and thus enabling these young people in the maintenance of government assets while also training these youth to become mechanics in the motor industry. These young people will be trained in fields such as fitter and turner, earth moving equipment mechanic, diesel mechanics, air conditioning and refrigeration specialists.

Moreover, under the sterling commitment of the EPWP unit, 15 learner contractors completed their first phase training under the Vukuphile Contractor Learnership programme. Vukuphile is an EPWP contractor learnership programme that seeks to build the capacity of emerging SMME's involved in the construction industry.
Of this group of 15 learner contractors, 12 of them completed their training at the end of November 2007 and the National Department of Public Works will devise an exit strategy for them. Furthermore, these 12 learner contractors have been appointed for the construction of access roads in Hopetown, Vaalharts, Noupoort, Norvalspond and Soebatsfontein.

The construction of the Vaalharts access road commenced on 1 April 2007; this project entails the upgrading of 2,5 kilometres of gravel road to a paved one. This road will provide the much needed access for farmers and the Magogong community. The project was done under EPWP principles of labour intensive work; three learner contractors were appointed and 33 job opportunities were created. The project cost R6,559 million.

The Noupoort access road project entails the upgrading of 1, 2 kilometres of the main access road to Noupoort from the N9. The project was done using EPWP principles; there are two learner contractors on site. It is still in progress with R3,5 million budgeted and 20 job opportunities created.

Madame Speaker, in total, the upgrading of these access roads, together with Magareng road and the drainage structures along Soebatsfontein access road, created more than 300 job opportunities.

Irrefutably, the appointment of these learner contractors has been met with immense challenges. One of these key challenges experienced in the Northern Cape province is the acute limited number of contractors that are registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), especially on higher grade levels such as level seven to level nine. Certainly, this challenge has resulted in key projects being awarded to contractors who emanate from other provinces. Another key challenge faced by these contractors is that most of them lack adequate financial management and project management skills.

The Department has entered into a service level agreement with the CIDB to establish a Contractor Contact Centre in the Northern Cape to assist these emerging contractors with registration and also mentor them. Office space for this centre has already been identified and an Office Manager has already been appointed. The help desk and administration block are in the process of being finalised.

Honourable members, this contractor contact centre will seek to:

* Improve the grading status of contractors in targeted categories and grades, effectively increasing the supply side capacity available to public and private sector clients.
* Increase the number of previously disadvantaged individuals, women, youth and the disabled in targeted categories and grades so that all categories and grades are represented.
* Create sustainable contracting enterprises by enabling continuous work through a competitive process, and thus creating the platform for sustainable employment and skills development.
* Improve the performance of contractors in terms of quality, employment practices, skills development, safety, health and the environment by rewarding performance.
* Improve the business management and technical skills of these contractors. The contractor contact centre will be launched during this financial year.

A total of R64 million has been allocated for the up scaling of EPWP projects. The National Department of Transport negotiated with Treasury to acquire funds and a three year ring fenced funding has been approved. Consequently, the funding will only be used on labour intensive projects relating to access roads.
Key projects that are funded for the up scaling of EPWP include:

* Hotazel-Vanzylsrus: 12 kilometres of the road was upgraded and paved at a total amount of R4, 5 million, which was transferred between the 2005/06 and 2006/07 financial year to the district municipalities. This is a continuous project where a further 10 kilometres is envisaged to be completed in the current financial year.

The road is about 130 km long and the municipality is tasked with to do the earthworks at a rate of 12 kilometres per year; the departmental team is sealing the road. The budget allocated in this financial year for this project is R8 million and 160 job opportunities are expected to be created.

* UAP Road: The budget allocated for this project is R6, 672 million. The project went out on tender for the first three kilometres and the Department is busy with the adjudication process. 133 jobs opportunities are expected to be created.

* Platfontein: The upgrading of this 4,1 kilometre access road is expected to create 30 jobs opportunities.

* Garies Circle road: Two learner contractors have commenced on the project; the budget allocated to it is R7, 726 million and 155 job opportunities are expected to be created.

* N7-Garies Hospital road: The rehabilitation of this 1,5 kilometre road that leads to the hospital is expected to create 84 job opportunities. A learner contractor started on the project during January and it is estimated to end at the end of June.

* The upgrading of the 7 kilometre Bulletrap gravel road is out on tender and is in adjudication stage. Construction is estimated to start during June 2008 and end during March 2009; the budget allocated to this financial year for this project amounts is R20 million. 404 job opportunities are expected to be created. For the 2008/09 financial year, the following key projects have been identified for the upscaling of EPWP access roads:

* Mothibistad to cross junction of D3031
* Hartswater-Christiana (North West border)
* Longlands access road
* Grens-Asbult (Victoria West); and
* Prieska-Niekershoop.

Moreover, other EPWP initiatives that the Department has embarked on include the:
* Contribution of R1 million towards the gravelling of the 10 kilometre access road to Philandersbron.
* regravelling of the two kilometre Lotlhakane-Kruisaar access road to the amount of R1 million
* Fencing of the Bendel-Ditshipeng road to the amount of R0,8 million.
* Fencing of the Bathlaros-Seoding road for R0,2 million; and
* Fencing of the Kagung-Damros road for R0,5 million.

Honourable members, with all these programmes in mind, it is clear to concede that the Expanded Public Works Programme epitomises the concept of Business Unusual. The total allocation of EPWP per district in the province is as follows:

Region: Frances Baard
Amount allocated: R18, 5 million

Region: Kgalagadi
Amount allocated: R31 million

Region: Pixley Ka Seme
Amount allocated: R35 million

Region: Siyanda
Amount allocated: R14 million

Region: Namakwa
Amount allocated: R13,5 million

Total: R112 million

Notwithstanding these successes, we also concede that EPWP has its own challenges. For example, not all elements of EPWP principles and guidelines are implemented on certain projects.

Roads Infrastructure Development

Madame Speaker, we are all acutely aware that the Northern Cape province has its own peculiarities when it comes to long distance travelling. With a gravel road network of more than 22 000 kilometres and 3 025 kilometres of paved road in the province, the Department has a fundamental task of ensuring that road users travel safely and that the province's roads are improved. This key task has now been compounded by the incorporation of Kgalagadi into the Northern Cape. Indeed, the provision and maintenance of an integrated road infrastructure ensures safe road usage for road users and it also facilitates socio-economic development in the province.

Madame Speaker, South Africa has been short listed as what will be one of the biggest and most sophisticated scientific instruments in the world, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a future generation international radio telescope that will enable astronomers to probe the early evolution of our galaxy.

Consequently, the Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works has been given the key task of designing the road that leads to the SKA site in the Pixley Ka Seme District. This project is an Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA) project; a total amount of R96, 51 million has been allocated for this financial year and it is expected to be completed by February 2009.

In the previous Budget Vote Speech, we noted that the road infrastructure of the Andriesvale-Transfrontier Park will be enhanced with the upgrading of 59, 3 kilometres of gravel road from Andriesvale to Transfrontier Park. To date, the construction of this road is 58% completed and the total budget for this financial year is R35,5 million.

The gravel road section between Britstown and Vosburg is being upgraded to a surfaced one at a total cost of R67 million. Construction on this project commenced in October 2006 and it is envisaged to be completed by July 2008.
A new surfaced road is also being constructed between Grootmier and Rietfontein at a total cost of R93 million. This project started in October 2006 and it is expected to be completed this month. The Honourable Premier Dipuo Peters and our Namibian counterparts will soon officially open this road.

Madame Speaker, for this financial year, we have embarked on the following projects:

* The Verlantenkloof Pass is on the tarred section between Sutherland in the Northern Cape and Matjiesfontein in the Western Cape. The safety of the pass must be improved as 7km of this pass is unsafe. A contractor was appointed during April 2008. An amount of R33, 8 million has been budgeted for 2008/09 financial year for the construction of this project.

* The section of road between Barkley West and Ulco is severely damaged due to the mining and agricultural activities happening in the area and in urgent need for rehabilitation. The project comprises of the repair and resealing of the existing paved road between Barkly West and Harts River. The improvements include the upgrading of intersections and the provision of a climbing lane. The rehabilitation of 19 kilometre of road from Barkley West to Ulco was advertised and the contractor appointed during April 2008 with a planned completion date of December 2008. The budget for this financial year is R44,9 million.

* The 22 kilometres gravel road section between Tsineng and Ntsweng Road is already designed. The upgrading of this road will improve access and improve levels of mobility for the communities of that area; the estimated construction cost of this project is R56 million.

* The Douglas-Campbell road was identified for upgrading particularly to identify tourism and economic routes in order to enhance infrastructure for economic growth and social development in the province.

* The upgrading of the Churchill-Bendel road, on the other hand, is intended to improve access of services to the communities of Kuruman; the estimated construction cost of this project is R89 million.

The department has developed the maintenance strategy with the key intention of transferring skills and creating jobs for local communities by developing small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the province to do the maintenance of gravel roads. The current average gravel thickness on the gravel road network of the Northern Cape is 43 mm out of a layer of 150 mm; presently, only 1% of the unpaved road network has a gravel thickness of 150 mm that is currently used as the benchmark compared to 32% in 2003.

To curb this challenge, the department is currently working on a Road Maintenance Strategy to assess the effectiveness of Service Level Agreements that it signed with the district municipalities. The Department is presently in consultations with key role players such as municipalities, farmers and the Executive.

Honourable members, the recent closure of the N12 has caused congestion and immense disgruntlement from motorists driving through the city of Kimberley. As we mentioned in the previous Budget Vote Speech, a decision was made at the stakeholders' meeting to create an alternative route through Kimberley after an observation that the Big Hole, next to the road, is caving in due to the high traffic volumes.

Discussions between the Department and Sol Plaatje Municipality are also ongoing; moreover, consultants have been appointed by Sol Plaatje Municipality to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best suitable route.

Public Transport

Madame Speaker, we have always acknowledged that public transport, as a heartbeat of South Africa's economy, has had enormous challenges. We are fully aware that, due to the scarcity of public transport in certain areas of the Northern Cape province, people struggle to access services of government. Madame Speaker, we are aware that our people do not have taxi ranks.

We have set aside an amount of R3 million to assist municipalities with the construction of taxi ranks in this financial year. To date, 12 municipalities have been assisted with the development of designs and business plans for the construction of public transport facilities.

With this in mind, the Department has already signed Service Level Agreements with Dikgatlong, Emthanjeni, Umsobomvu, Phokwane, Khara Hais, Gamagara and Nama Khoi Municipality; these municipalities have already appointed Project Managers and they have finalised their designs.

To date, in Dikgatlong Municipality, the first phase of the upgrading the existing taxi rank has been completed; new taxi ranks will be built in Emthanjeni, Nama Khoi, Umsobomvu and Phokwane; the existing taxi ranks will be upgraded in Khara Hais and Gamagara and a new one will be built in Dingleton. The following is a breakdown of cost allocations in these taxi ranks:

Dikgatlong Municipality
Total Amount of project: R600 000

Phokwane Municipality
Total Amount of project: R1 million

Nama Khoi Municipality
Total Amount of project: R700 000

Emthanjeni Municipality
Total Amount of project: R2 million

Gamagara Municipality
Total Amount of project: R400 000

Gamagara Municipality
Total Amount of project: R700 000

Khara Hais Municipality
Total Amount of project: R500 000

Umsobomvu Municipality
Total Amount of project R700 000

Magareng Municipality
Total Amount of project R500 000

Total: R7,1 million

Also, the Department will undertake three additional taxi ranks for this financial year; these are the upgrading of the Kuruman taxi rank for R500 000, a new taxi rank in Batlharos for R500 000, and a new taxi rank in Dithakong for R500 000.

Madame Speaker, I also want to touch on the issue of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme. The programme was initiated to replace the current unsafe and ageing 16-seater taxi fleets with purpose-build larger capacity, safer and more comfortable new taxi vehicles. Because the safety of our passengers is our key priority, these new taxi vehicles have safety features that include safety belts for all passengers.

I must however mention that I am happy with the progress that has been made by the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme in the Northern Cape; 220 old taxis have already been scrapped in the province, 1 168 old permits have been replaced with Operating Licences, 955 of these Operating Licences have already been uplifted by the respective operators and 213 still have to be uplifted.

Whilst the moratorium of illegal taxi operators is still in place, it is worth mentioning that the taxi industry continues to grow and some operators to continue to operate without legal documentation. Currently, there are 100 semi-legal operators in the province which need to be obliterated by 31 March 2009, depending on National Cabinet approval.

It is our objective that Bus Rapid Strategy initiatives are integrated with the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme. With this in mind, we have contracts in Kuruman, Hartswater and Kimberley. We are in the process of redesigning the services to incorporate taxis.

Madame Speaker, as part of our rural mobility initiatives, 5 076 bicycles will be donated to various schools in the province through the Shova ka Lula initiative. This initiative, which was initiated with the Department of Education, seeks to address transport deficiencies that prevail in the rural areas of the province.

Honourable members, we have also entered into an agreement with Sol Plaatje Municipality to construct bicycle lanes in Galeshewe, Roodepan and Greenpoint to the tune of R6, 4 million.

For our people, transport is a basic need which enables them access to employment and economic opportunities. The most immediate focus at this juncture is the 2010 World Cup which will serve as a catalyst for transport transformation in this country. Although the Northern Cape province is not going to host the 2010 World Cup, we should recognise that 2010 is providing the platform for the development of much-needed transport, social and economic infrastructure in our country.

The economic spin offs of an integrated transport system, leading to the 2010 and beyond, is quite evident in our airports. Consequently, it is within this context that the Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works and its socio-economic partners are actively pursuing initiatives such as the development of the Kimberley Airport and the Upington Cargo Hub.

About R20 million has been allocated for the renovation of the Kimberley Airport. The Department, the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) and other key stakeholders will extend and upgrade the airport's arrival and departure lounge, upgrade the lighting of the runway, upgrade restaurants in the airport, upgrade the car rental kiosks and also extend the airport's point of entry. All of this is envisaged to commence this year.

The Upington Cargo Hub, on the other hand, will significantly benefit the agricultural, fish, motor and hospitality industries. The development of this hub represents considerable benefits to the province and also attractive benefits for users in that there is less congestion, a quicker airport turn-around time, potential for payload factors and lower handling and airport charges.

A technical committee has been appointed to drive the process forward and a project manager has been appointed to champion the project. Both airports play a significant role in boosting the economy of the Northern Cape province. The province is in the process of applying for an ad hoc Port of Entry for Kimberley.

The potential that the rail industry has as a catalyst for economic growth in the province should not be overlooked. The Northern Cape Provincial Government has recognised the need to revitalise rail operations in terms of both long distance rail passenger transport and rail freight transport in the province. The need to revitalise rail operations has, to a large extent, been influenced by the decline in the economies of local towns, especially in the Pixley Ka Seme District, and the need to stimulate these economies through interventions that are aimed at using existing strengths and infrastructure in these areas.

In its efforts to revitalise rail operations, the Department and its socio-economic partners has embarked on the De Aar Rail Freight Intermodal Terminal Project. The De Aar Rail Freight Intermodal Terminal Project, Madame Speaker, seeks to:

* Assist in the building of a viable economic zone for the Northern Cape through the revitalisation of the existing rail infrastructure
* Owing to legislative imperatives, convert De Aar into a major national and international Free Trade Zone within a favourable time frame.
* Lobby national government and Treasury to assist in making De Aar the only centre and hub for rail interchange that offers an Industrial Free Zone.
* Creating new and sustainable jobs and skills for the citizenry of the Northern Cape.

The Freight Logistic Strategy, Madame Speaker, was approved by Cabinet in November 2007; we are currently in the process of establishing a Freight Forum Committee. The Department attended a Freight Forwarders conference during the month of May where the Northern Cape made a presentation.

Public Works

Madame Speaker, one of the key tasks of the Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works is to manage the state' immovable assets. The total number of state owned immovable state assets recorded on the assert register is 1 216. We should acknowledge, however, that the limited human resource component is hampering progress in the identification and verification process of state owned properties.

A total number of 79 properties were transferred from the North West province to the Northern Cape. The department has a key challenge of implementing the payment of market related rentals as these properties are currently in an almost dilapidated condition due to their non-maintenance.

Honourable members, the former dispensation under the apartheid regime put particular emphasis on the building of new state assets; these assets, however, were not adequately maintained. Consequently, the Department of Public Works developed the National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy.

With this in mind, we liaised with other government departments and other spheres of government in the province to determine their accommodation needs. Most provincial departments have started to use former schools and hostels in the province for their office accommodation. We are in the process of converting a number of houses in the province into flat lets. Renovations on these houses are being done by the National Youth Service learners as part of their building maintenance programme.

The renovation of the Department's head office in floors is one example. The Department revamped a dilapidated former high school hostel. The buildings vacated by the SCM unit at the District Regional Engineer will be refurbished to accommodate the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). This move will result in the expeditious processing of contractor registrations. Also, the regional office in De Aar has vacated the leased property and has relocated to the Orion Hostel which is state owned. The move will result in substantial rental savings to the Department.

The resident at 6 Field Street, Madame Speaker, is another example. This resident was refurbished into flat let's to accommodate the seven Cuban professionals who have been deployed to the Northern Cape to assist with the current technical capacity problems and to also impart technical knowledge and skills in the province.

The promulgation of the Government Immovable Management Act in November 2007 enhances the asset management function. Given the extent of the immovable assert portfolio in the province and the impact it has on the economy, social and environmental spheres, there is an urgent need to manage assets uniformly, efficiently, effectively and economically.

The iE-Works, which is an asset register, was rolled out in the province to assist with the compliance of this Act. The Northern Cape province, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the first provinces in the country where iE-Works was rolled out.

Madame Speaker, the Department has also initiated on a number of key projects for the Department of Education. A total number 97 infrastructure projects were identified for the 2007/08 financial year. Of these, 22 were completed, 28 are in construction, 15 are in various stages of the procurement process, 8 are in design stage, 12 are in preliminary planning; 10 of these projects were cancelled and two are managed by the Department of Education and various trusts.

The above projects also include the construction of science laboratories, administration blocks, ablution blocks and classrooms. Also, a total number 114 infrastructure projects were identified for the 2008/09 financial year. Of these, 14 were completed, 31 are in construction, 15 are in various stages of the procurement process, seven are in design stage and 47 are in preliminary planning.

The Department has also embarked on the Schools Refurbishment Flagship Programme. This programme will entail the repairing and maintenance of 40 school buildings in the province; it seeks to provide skills and practical training to communities. It is anticipated that a total of 80 job opportunities will be created from this project.

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme entails the construction of 16 single classrooms and two double classroom units; designs for these classrooms have already been completed and approved. Moreover, three new schools in Kgalagadi and one in Frances Baard are planned for construction during the 2008/09 financial year.

Two media centres will also be provided at schools in Pampierstad over the two financial years at a cost of R1,2 million. For the Department of Health, the new Barkley West Hospital has been completed; 100 jobs were created on this project. The construction of five new clinics in Douglas, Platfontein, Deben, De Aar and Phillipstown commenced in October 2007; construction on these projects is progressing well and on schedule. The budget allocated for these construction is R15 million.

Additionally, the construction of the De Aar and Springbok Secure Care Centres is also ongoing. The De Aar Secure Care Centre is designed to accommodate 40 children from the surrounding areas and it has provided jobs for 40 people; the Springbok Secure Care Centre, on the other hand, is also designed to accommodate 40 children and the project provides jobs for 50 people.

As part of the Big Hole development, earthworks on the project have been completed and construction has commenced on the 2 500 seater development centre at an estimated cost of R93 million.

With this in mind, honourable members, I therefore take this opportunity to table an amount of R649 million for the 2008/09 as follows:

Programme: Administration (six percent of the total budget)
Allocation: R42 million

Programme: Public Works (18% of the total budget)
Allocation: R115 million

Programme: Road Infrastructure (65% of the total budget)
Allocation: R419 million

Programme: Public Transport (two percent of the total budget)
Allocation: R15 million

Programme: Expanded Public Works Programme (2% of the total budget)
Allocation: R58 million

Total Budget Allocation: R649 million

I hereby reaffirm the Department's commitment to remain true to the memory of the martyrs of liberty who sacrificed themselves on 16 June 1976. I reaffirm our commitment that we shall serve the people of the Northern Cape province with veracity, fidelity and devotion in order to achieve the economic growth and developmental targets as defined by the Northern Cape Provincial Growth and Development Strategy.

I pledge the unwavering commitment from our Department to accelerate service delivery by reaffirming our commitment to concretise the promise of a "better life for all".

Conclusion

Honourable Premier and my colleagues in the Executive Council, thank you for your ongoing support and advice, your strategic direction for, and commitment to the goal and objectives of our Department.

Members of the Legislature and especially those of the Standing Committee, I thank you for your support and advice in assisting us in meeting our targets to upgrade and develop infrastructure for the benefit of all people in the Northern Cape.

To our many stakeholders in the transport and public works sectors; thank you for your partnerships with us and your commitment.

To staff members in the Department; I thank you for your consistent commitment and hard work towards improving the situation rather than responding to critics; for taking responsibility rather than passing the blame and surrounding me with smart, capable individuals who deepen the Department's commitment to efficient and effective service delivery. Like a family, we are all interconnected and I value the gift of having others like you in my life.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife and my family for their support, patience and commitment.

Ke a leboga!
Ndiyabulela!
I thank you!
Baie dankie!

Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works, Northern Cape Provincial Government
12 June 2008