MEDIA STATEMENT

MEDIA STATEMENT BY DR KWAZI MBANJWA, CEO: KZN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AT HILLCREST INTERCHANGE ON THE M13, DURBAN ON 11 AUGUST 2004

Over the past decade there has been very considerable reform within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport as a result of the fundamental policy changes of our national government. We have responded by shifting our priorities and our African Renaissance Roads Upgrading Programme, our Zibambele Poverty Relief Programme and our Vukuzakhe Emerging Contractor Programme are all now recognised nationally as innovative programmes designed to address the socio-economic needs of the previously disadvantaged communities of our province.

Despite the overwhelming needs of the rural communities and the burden it places on the province’s roads budget, the challenge facing my Department is to strike a fair balance between the socio-economic needs of the rural communities and those of the urban communities.

Provincial government is mandated to develop and maintain a province-wide road network that shall not only facilitate mobility between towns and cities but shall also address the accessibility needs of the non-urbanised communities.

The upgrading of the Hillcrest Interchange on the M13 and the construction of P577, the proposed new dual carriageway road between KwaMashu and New Germany, both within the eThekwini Municipality area, are proof that my Department is serious about looking after the mobility needs of urbanised communities. A common feature of these two projects is co-operative governance at work where two spheres of government, namely provincial and local, are working together to improve service delivery.

An additional feature of the Hillcrest interchange project is the cooperation between government and the private sector. This project was motivated, initiated and is partially funded by the developer of the Plantations Residential Estate and we applaud the contribution the developer has made towards alleviating the traffic congestion on the major routes through Hillcrest. We endorse and encourage public private partnerships as a way forward for the development of our province.

This project is characteristic of the transformation that has taken place in my Department’s service delivery systems. More than 14 000 emerging contractors have registered with my department’s Vukuzakhe Contractor Development Programme. Our commitment is to provide contract opportunities whenever possible and to develop the skills levels within the emerging contractor sector as our contribution towards normalising the road construction industry in our province. During the past financial year my Department created more than 1 500 opportunities for our Vukuzakhe emerging contractors with a total value of more than R 370 million.

The contract for all the ancillary works on this project was awarded to Jiji Construction, an entry grade stage 1 Vukuzakhe contractor. The owner, Joseph Mngoma, won his first contract in 2001. The contract involved the construction of a road in Umnini using labour-intensive methods. His next contract was to lay subsoil drains on P577 at KwaMashu, the major road project I mentioned earlier. Hillcrest interchange was his third contract with my department and he is now eligible for promotion to stage 2. He has also recently been awarded a contract to do sewer connections for eThekwini Municipality. A stage 2 Vukuzakhe contractor, J & S Construction, won the road marking contract. Despite their limited experience we are pleased with their progress and are proud of the achievements of both these contractors.

As part of their normal duties our project managers, Henwood & Nxumalo Consulting Engineers, were tasked with developing the skills of these two Vukuzakhe contractors, as well as providing experiential training for a Technikon civil engineering student. This has become a typical requirement for the implementation of our projects.

The decision to proceed with this project was taken in December last year and, despite the early delays in relocating the Telkom and electricity cables within road reserve, I am pleased with the performance of the construction team.

Today we celebrate the completion of this R 3, 8 million project and the handing over of the completed works by the contractor and project manager to the Department of Transport.

The construction of the new Durban-bound ramp is our response to the needs of the Hillcrest community where the rapid growth in residential development has over-loaded the major commuter routes. This interchange has been upgraded to provide a safe alternative link to the M13 highway and provides additional road capacity for further property developments in the vicinity of Shongweni road.

We are forever conscious of the fact that well-maintained roads are essential for sustaining development and economic growth. My Department is committed to responding to the developmental needs of our communities, both urban and rural, and will continue to strive to upgrade and extend our blacktop and gravel road networks and we pledge that road safety will continue to receive the attention that it deserves.

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