SPEECH BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL MINISTER OF TRANSPORT MR S’BU NDEBEELE DURING THE LAUNCH OF ROAD 706 IN CHATSWORTH

Programme Director
His Worship Mayor Obed Mlaba
KZN MP and Minority Front Leader, Mr Amichand Rajbansi
Councillor Visvin Reddy and other Councillors present
Distinguished Guests

Protocol observed

Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel greatly honoured to be invited in the official launch of Road 706 here in Chatsworth. This road serves more than 5 schools and about 2 500 pupils use it on daily basis. It is one of the longest roads in Chatsworth, which has grown from nothing to one of the bustling cosmopolitan areas in KwaZulu-Natal. Chatsworth has one of the largest communities of people of Indian Origin in this country and through hard work and creative entrepreneurial spirit; the community of Chatsworth has transformed their township into a thriving, self-sufficient metropolis. Chatsworth also boasts of the biggest Hindu Temple in the Southern Hemisphere.

I have always insisted that roads have to support our economic priorities, which as identified within the Medium Term Expenditure Framework include economic growth, employment creation, equity and social development. It is in this context that the upgrading of Road 706 takes place. The phenomenal rise in business activities in Chatsworth make it necessary for this part of EThekwini Municipality to have a well developed road infrastructure given that more 80% of goods and people in this area and indeed in the whole of KwaZulu-Natal are transported by road. The number of vehicles on our roads increases annually and congestion levels demand that we give serious attention to upgrading parts of our road network.

However, I must hasten to add that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has adopted a systematic approach to integrating the emerging contractor sector into the mainstream construction industry as a powerful player. Our emerging contractor programme has excelled above the norm with more than R150 million spent on emerging contractors by the end of the last financial year. All spheres of government have indicated a strong investment programme in meeting the infrastructure needs of disadvantaged communities and this alone creates a window of opportunity for Black (Indian, African and Coloured) empowerment within the construction industry.

It has become an international truism that a well maintained and balanced road network is critical to the creation of a nations wealth. However, here in KwaZulu-Natal we go further than the international truism but we use roads not just to link communities physically but finally to unite the whole nation. As we launch the Road 706, one is always reminded of how Chatsworth looked like under Apartheid. This is how the Director of the Indian Academy of South Africa, Dr TP Naidoo analyses Chatsworth’s condition from early years until the introduction of Apartheid "There were no schools in Chatsworth. A few boys attended the schools in Malvern and Seaview. They had to walk all the way from Chatsworth. The Chatsworth State Aided Indian School was built from funds donated by the Indian Community in 1931. Some pupils had to walk up to ten miles each day".

This untenable situation continued on all aspects of development including access to clinics as well as industrial and business centres. Thus with the installation of the first democratic Government in 1994, began a long and complex struggle to transform, restructure and democratise control of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial road network so that there would be equitable road access to all communities within the Province, especially the previously disadvantaged communities like the Chatsworth Community. Like its neighbours Lamontville and Umlazi, the Chatsworth community has seen its taxi industry suffer during Apartheid where there was total neglect of roads in Black areas. In commending the Chatsworth community for good spirit of partnership with Ethekwini Municipality, I want to single out Visvin Reddy and Mr Gary Naidoo who have played a very significant role towards having Road 706 upgraded.

In the final analysis, I want to thank the organisers of this event for their time, energy and resources. Most importantly I want to thank you members of Chatsworth community for your attendance and commitment to development.

I thank you.

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