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7 May 2009

Mayor and Councillors of the Port St Johns Municipality
Traditional leaders
Representatives from the business fraternity, especially tourism industry
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Let me first take this opportunity to salute the people of Port St Johns for going out in their numbers to vote for a government that is going to respond to their needs.

Today marks the start of delivery to the promises that we have made as the African National Congress through our manifesto, which included, amongst others:
* rural development
* creation of decent work

We are making a public declaration today that a better life for all is achievable and we remain on course in our mission to fight poverty and realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the Provincial Growth and Development Plan targets of halving unemployment and poverty by 2014.

It is a known fact that the Eastern Cape Province is 62% rural and is still reeling from the effects of the legacy of apartheid planning. Accessibility of goods and services and mobility of our people still remain a serious challenge to the provincial government.

There has been growing concern among key stakeholders in business, organised labour, Non-Governmental Organisations [NGOs], and government departments that the absence of an effective and efficient rural transport network within the province is a serious impediment to rural economic development and poverty eradication, and indeed to the realisation of the PGDP and Integrated Development Plans (IDP) targets. The transportation burden faced by rural communities on a daily basis in rural South Africa is real and substantial, particularly in the Eastern Cape Province.

Many rural communities are not connected to the main road network and do not have reliable access to socio-economic development opportunities and government services. This lack of mobility and accessibility of our people has limited their participation in economic activities and has further entrenched their isolation and marginalization from the mainstream economy.

These rural communities and villages experience daily the effects of an inadequate access road network and that negatively affects their livelihood. This situation has now reached a stage where it belittles the dignity and integrity of communities.

It is therefore of critical importance to pay particular attention to the Provincial Rural Access Road Network to alleviate the suffering of the rural communities.

In 2006, the Department of Roads and Transport established a Rural Transport Plan which aimed at addressing the rural transportation needs of the province. The overarching objective of the intervention is to implement a Provincial Rural Access Transport Programme that proposes concrete short, medium, and long term strategies to build an accessible and sustainable rural transport network in support of the PGDP and IDPs, in general, and rural communities, in particular.

Through this initiative, we want to accelerate:
* provision of basic rural transport needs to the poorest of the poor
* economic participation of the rural poor
* skills development and capacity building in rural communities
* job creation

The ten years Provincial Road Infrastructure Turn Around Plan that we are unveiling today was adopted by the Department of Roads and Transport after the Eastern Cape Rural Roads Summit held at Qunu near Mthatha in August 2008.

It is based on the fact that 80% of Eastern Cape roads are gravel and 20% is tarred. The main objective of the Plan is to have 80% of our road network tarred over a period of 10 years through the use of alternative surfacing technologies at a cost of R3 billion and create 1 000 jobs every year.

In this financial year, R112 million will be spent. A total of R600 million will be spent in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period with a particular focus on roads that lead to schools, clinics and hospitals, police stations, tourism destinations and government services.

We have established alternative surfacing units in all districts and we have worked together with municipalities to identify certain roads that need intervention, which include, amongst others:
* Qokolweni and Mqanduli
* Ngqeleni and Mthatha Mouth
* R61 Sitshayela and Tembukazi
* Roads to Magwa Tea Plantation

The Wild Coast Meander construction from Tombo to Mpamba will commence in October 2009, followed by the stretch between Zithulele and Coffee Bay, Coffee Bay to Mqanduli and Madwaleni Hospital Road.

A total of 2 616 kilometres will be maintained in the OR Tambo District over the next three years through our Routine Road Maintenance Programme.

Port St Johns (PSJ) interventions

In 2006, Cabinet adopted Port St Johns as an area that need special intervention and this formed part of the High Impact Priority Projects (HIPP).

Our road infrastructure aspect of the Port St Johns Intervention Programme is being done through alternative surfacing technologies at a cost of R24 million this year.

These include:
* Mangroove Military Camp, which provides access to the local Public Viewing Site. Surfacing on this road was delayed due to the game between Bafana Bafana and Norway, but is expected to commence on 18 May 2009
* Military Camp Airstrip

Light rehabilitation is also expected to commence soon on roads such as:
* Ndwalane to Port St Johns
* Mampube to Port St Johns
* Port St Johns to Ntafufu

We have included Port St Johns in the Area Wide Road Maintenance Programme. We have committed R60 million in support of this municipality’s Master Plan over a period of three years in order to improve the quality of road infrastructure in the Central Business District (CBD).

Later this year, we will expand our Sakha Isizwe Learnership Programme to this municipality with a particular focus on emerging contractors’ development.

Maritime projects

Since 2008, the department has spent R2,8 million on the provision of life guard’s services in eight beaches around Port St Johns with 36 life guards.

We have further provided a passenger boat for crossing the Umzimvubu River by the people of Noqhekwana Village to access town. This was prompted by the number of people, who drowned while trying to cross the river to get to town. A total of R2 million has been spent since 2007 on the operational costs, which included payment of drivers and fuel.

In order to ensure that local beaches qualify for the Blue Flag status, we have already spent R527 308.00 on the rehabilitation of the second Beach, Agate Terrace Beach and Mpande Beach. Additional R4 million will be spent in this financial year on this rehabilitation project.

Public Transport

Through our Shova Kalula Bicycle Project, the department has provided a container and spare parts for R50 000. This year we want to build a permanent structure of the spare shop, bicycles paths, and buy more bicycles for the area at a cost of R1,`2 million.

Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Community Based Projects

In an effort to create jobs for poor households, we have employed 238 household contractors in this municipality alone to maintain roads. A total of R2million has been earmarked for the fencing and renovations of the Port St Johns Airstrip through the use of household contractors.

Five rangers have been employed along R61 to Port St Johns to monitor stray animals.

2010 Projects

We have availed R6 million for the development of a business plan that will capture the 2010 FIFA World Cup needs of Port St Johns in support of the local Public Viewing Site. The department is currently looking for quotations for FIFA compliant road signs that will be put here.

Mthatha Airport Progress

In support of the Port St Johns tourism potential and the entire Wild Coast region, we are moving with great speed to ensure that physical construction commences at the Mthatha Airport by July 2009 and is completed early in 2010.

Discussions are underway with various investors, who would like to invest on both Bhisho and Mthatha Airports in support of our Blue Skyway Aviation Strategy. Our main intention is to:

* have a second airline between Mthatha and Johannesburg, including an evening flight. A future link to Durban from Mthatha is envisaged as soon as the correct type of service is developed. An important goal is to link Port Elizabeth to Mthatha via Bhisho with the service geared for faster movement between these three areas and to reduce the number of government vehicles on these routes
* ensure that Mthatha Airport contributes in tourism development in the region through improving access to the Wild Coast, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world
* ensure that the Airport contributes to local business development
* facilitate connectivity with local businesses as people will now come directly to Mthatha and surrounding towns like Port St Johns, instead of flying to East London and then drive many hours.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, it is clear that working together we can do more in order to realise a better life for all. Our strength will heavily depend on our unity and we must guard that unity like an apple of our eyes.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
7 May 2009