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MR S'BU NDEBELE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE MKHAYA RIVER BRIDGE AT OKHOZI - PHONGOLA9 October 2001
Master of Ceremonies It gives me great pleasure to officially open the Mkhaya River Bridge at oKhozi in Pongola magisterial district. This bridge is critical in linking road D429 to Pongola, Vryhied and Nongoma. The importance of the Mkhaya River Bridge to the farming community was highlighted when the existing bridge structure washed away earlier this year. Overnight, farmers and farm workers were cut off from markets and services that are critical to the well being of their community. The farming community harvests more than 100 000 tons of sugarcane annually. This has a market value of some R16,5 million per annum and provides sustained employment for farm workers whose combined wages total R700 000 per month or more than R8 million per annum. Furthermore, the area is host to three game lodges thus tourism has become increasingly prominent in diversifying the local economy and in creating new opportunities. For the community of over 1 000 people the Mkhaya River Bridge provides a vital link to markets and public facilities. I understand that the nearest State hospital is in Nongoma and that when the bridge washed away a woman who was in labour had to be carried over the Mkhaya River, when its flood waters subsided, to then be transported to the Nongoma hospital. I am also told that in the aftermath of "Demoina" that helicopters were used to bring in essential food and supplies to the community. There was little doubt in our minds, therefore, that it was in the best interests of the local community affected and the Zululand district's economy that the flood damaged Mkhaya River Bridge be replaced as timeously as possible. The flood history of the Mkhaya River provided the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport with relevant information concerning the design of the new bridge. Those of you who are familiar with the water levels of the Mkhaya River will appreciate that the new bridge has been constructed to accommodate previous flood levels. However, the Mkhaya River Bridge is more than just a bridge. When I became Minister of Transport for the province of KwaZulu-Natal in 1994 I undertook to use my portfolio within a broader strategy for alleviating poverty and for redressing those imbalances of the past that continue to bedevil our province and our country. It is with pride that I can point to the Mkhaya River Bridge and say, "this was built by a Vukuzakhe contractor". The Mkhaya River Bridge is just one of the more than 900 project opportunities that were created for Vukuzakhe contractors during the 2000/2001 financial year alone. Mhambayedwa Civil and Earthworks CC, the company, which constructed the bridge, has progressed through the stages of our Vukuzakhe programme. Mr Mabaso, of Mahambayedwa Civil and Earthworks CC, registered the company on our emerging contractor database, towards the end of 1999, as a Stage 2 contractor. When you view the Makhaya River Bridge you can judge for yourselves the success of our Staged Advancement Emerging Contractor programme. The Mkhaya River Bridge is 26,4 metres long and was constructed by Mahambayedwa Civil and Earthworks CC in five months started on 8 March 2001 and finished on 10 August 2001 under extremely difficult circumstances that included a flash flood which caused significant damage to the construction works and to equipment that resulted in time loss of one month. This therefore means that the bridge was actually constructed in four months. The company is now among the ten Level 4 contractor who will be integral to the African Renaissance Road Upgrading Programme. It is also with a sense of pride that I can point to the Mkhaya River Bridge and report that it was first placed on the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport's Roads Works agenda by the Pongola Rural Road Transport Forum. I am told that the urgency of repairing the flood damage, caused by the Mkhaya River, was placed on the form's agenda by Mr de Kock and Mr Cameroon, who are the KwaNalu representatives on the forum. Indeed Mr Henry Combrinck, who has been a Member of Parliament since 1994 and who has provided valuable support to this project, has also represented KwaNalu on the Pongola Rural Road Transport Forum. I think that it is fair to claim that the Mkhaya River Bridge is testimony to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport's commitment to use its budget not just for the building of physical infrastructure but also to build social bridges where none have previously existed. Over the past several years the Pongola Rural Road Transport forum has assisted the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport in the construction of 15 road projects totalling 54,8 kilometres and 14 small bridges and causeways. In the process a significant number of new work and business opportunities have been created. The rural roads of the Pongola district are currently maintained by 364 Zibambele contractors and the Department has targeted increasing the number of Zibambele contractor opportunities to 500 this financial year. The Mkhaya River Bridge is just one among many testimonials to how Rural Road Transport Forum members have become development activists in every true sense of the word. They have been able to rise above their individual and ideological differences and put their communities their neighbourhoods and development first. I am reminded tat the Pongola Rural Road Transport Forum, of which Mr MP Mavuso is the chairperson, was adjudged the best performing Rural Road Transport Forum in 1999. The performance of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, as an opportunity creator, is particularly critical in those communities that have historically been most disadvantaged. The Zululand District Council, which comprises of our maintenance districts of Nongoma, Mahlabathini, Pongola and Vryheid, is host to some of the poorest communities in South Africa. While there are many indicators that can be used to highlight the poverty of communities, at the end of the day it all comes down to what opportunities exist for people to earn a living and to enhance their quality of life. It is shocking that between 1980 and 1994 Nongoma, which is at the heart of the Zulu Kingdom, experienced a 44,5% growth in active job seekers but a 31% decline in formal job opportunities. Note that I stress active job seekers rather than unemployed as, although only 11,66% of the population in Nongoma between the ages of 18 and 64 is employed, the vast majority of unemployed are no longer actively looking for work precisely because they have looked in vain for so many years and, as you know, trying to find employment can be expensive. A similar pattern is evident in Mhlabathini, Pongola and Vryheid. Thus, for example, between 1980 and 1994 the number of formally employed people in Pongola decreased by almost 2000 and there are now more active job seekers than there are employed (1994 : 10 330 active job seekers, 6 278 formally employed). I have highlighted these statistics on the number of active job seekers who cannot find work to emphasise the enormity of the legacy that we, as democratic government, have inherited. These statistics bear testimony to the importance of the Mkhaya River Bridge. Had the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport not responded positively to the motivation to replace the flood damaged bridge, this would have resulted in further job losses and a greater number of active job seekers desperately looking for work. I would like to reiterate my Department's commitment to working with the Zululand District Council and all stakeholders to build the economy of the region, to create new opportunities and to eradicate poverty. I believe that our African Renaissance Road Upgrading Programme will contribute significantly to the growth and development of the Zululand district. This programme includes upgrading main roads 235,52 and 49 to blacktop, thus creating a link road from Mtubatuba to Vryheid via Nongoma and from Nongoma to Pongola. This is not a dream. We have already begun work on main road 235. The African Renaissance Road Upgrading Programme will undoubtedly result in a dramatic saving in transport costs. This will act as a catalyst for further investments and local economic development opportunities, particularly in agriculture, tourism, transport, construction, small industries and trade. We are determined to use the African Renaissance Road Upgrading Programme to normalise the road construction industry in KwaZulu-Natal and, in the process, to create unprecedented employment and business opportunities for beneficiary communities. In closing I would like to thank and congratulate all involved in today's celebration. And there is cause to celebrate. To go from bridge design to complete structure in only five months is indeed a remarkable achievement. That a Vukuzakhe contractor was responsible for turning the bridge design into a reality gives us even more cause to celebrate. That the farming community will continue to prosper and not be forced to retrench workers is also a cause to celebrate. That the Rural Road Transport Forum has played its role in the best interests of the community is further cause to celebrate. However, while we celebrate the opening of the Mkhaya River Bridge, we must be mindful of the fact that there are millions of citizens in KwaZulu-Natal who continue to live in relative isolation without adequate road and transport infrastructure. I ask you to use this occasion to strengthen our commitment to bring hope to those communities most in need so that they too can have just cause to celebrate a better life for all. Thank you.
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