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SPEECH BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL MINISTER OF TRANSPORT DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF MUDEN PROJECT27 August 2002
Master of Ceremonies I am extremely delighted to be part of the sod-turning ceremony for Nteneshana Road here at Muden. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport regards the provision of roads infrastructure as a fundamental component of economic reconstruction not only for our Province but also for the entire country. It will be remembered that before the commencement of our Commnity Access Roads Needs Study it was estimated that the backlog of community access roads in the province was 17 000 kms. However, after receiving applications for access roads the total length of roads applied for was 11 421 kms which became our target as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. It is with great pride to state that our Department is really moving to meet the above-mentioned target. For instance, since 1995 to the last financial we constructed 2452.8km and since the first of April 2002 till the end of July we have constructed 42.5 km which gives us a total of us to 2495.3km that we have constructed so far. The construction of Mooi River Bridge and Road A 4089 happens within the background of colonial deprivation of the people of Msinga dating back to the late 19th century when the Zulu people fell under British rule. People in this area were self-sufficient and produced enough for themselves and their livestock. During Apartheid things became worse when the successive Apartheid Governments pushed people to areas not conducive to farming. There was a fierce competition over land and other important resources, which led to misunderstanding between communities and, ultimately to wars fuelled by Apartheid's divide and rule tactics. We are gathered here today therefore to do a site visit on the constructed Mooi River Bridge and Road No. A 408 9. The Muden Community approached the KZN Department of Transport and requested the requested the construction of the bridge and a road. Previously the produce made by African and White farmers suffered because the bridge was washed away by floods in 1987. The road itself is new and the absence of a bridge since the 1987 floods made matters worse in that access to schools, shops, town and other important institutions was extremely difficult. Longer distances had to be travelled to get the produce out to the markets. Community gardens were located at the bottom of the mountain and farmers had to find access to markets. The KwaZulu-natal Department of Transport then undertook to build a bridge and a road. The bridge was constructed by Makhubu Civils. The breakdown of expenditure for both the projects is as follows:
The KZN Department of Transport undertook to build the road and rebuild the bridge primarily through Vukuzakhe Contractor and Civil Contractor and thus the project took off. The Department has not finished doing the work because several crossings have yet to be completed. This newly constructed infrastructure is going to benefit more than 400 farmers in a population of more than 120 000. The economy is already having a huge boost with more than 500 hectors of land already under irrigation. The reconstruction of this bridge therefore is an affirmation by the KZN Department of Transport that the economic activities of the Black Farmers are as important as those of the White farmers It is not only the previously marginalized farmers that are benefiting out of this Project. Schools are already benefiting and out of seven schools, three in particular stand to benefit directly. These include EMachunwini Senior Primary School, Dumakude Senior Primary School and Nogida High School. Our initiatives have unbundled a lot of initiatives and energies that have diversified into areas not directly related to transport. For instance, a bank that targets farmers has already been started by the community here at Muden. Known as Muden Finance Corporation. More than 80 % of customers for this bank are farmers. Because a bridge and a road have made access possible, farmers can now borrow money from this bank and in turn have their produce now transported easily to their target markets. This is what we call SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. In the final analysis, I want to say that people of Msinga have turned the expression "turning swords into ploughshares" into a reality. They are today living side by side committed to PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT. I thank you.
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