SPEECH BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL MINISTER OF TRANSPORT MR S'BU NDEBELE DURING THE LAUNCH OF DURBAN TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

5 March 2004

Programme Director
His Worship, EThekwini Mayor Councillor Obed Mlaba
Acting National Minister of Transport, Mr Jeff Radebe
The KwaZulu-Natal CEO for Transport, Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa
Senior Managers from National and Provincial Departments of Transport
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

 

I feel very much honored yet humbled to be part of the launch of South Africa's first Metropolitan Transport Authority. It is also very encouraging to note that this happens here in the EThekwini Metro where almost 40% of KwaZulu-Natal's population resides. Furthermore, with Durban having become an international destination for tourists, the establishment of Durban Transport Authority will further enhance Durban*s stature among other local  and international competitors. In developed countries, Transport Authorities have been in existence for many years. It is a well-known fact that disastrous Apartheid Policies left the transport sector in shambles. Experts have identified six major challenges facing public transport provision in South Africa, including the EThekwini Metro:

  • Fragmented institutional and management structures
  • Wasteful subsidized competition
  • Lack of integration of service between modes
  • Reduction in the levels and standards of service
  • Lack of adequate control and enforcement
  • Major deterioration, breakdown and the threat of shutdown of all rail systems and service due to underinvestment over many years

This situation is so serious that if a tragic event like that of September 11 in the United States were to happen here the swift evacuation of people and emergency service provision will be extremely difficult because of the transport system we have inherited from the previous government. We are therefore operating against a very disempowering background. Together with the National Department of Transport and EThekwini Metro, we then embarked on a number of far-reaching and major initiatives leading to the transformation of the public transport system in KwaZulu-Natal. These projects are complex and cut across all modes and will impact on a whole range of stakeholders. The establishment of the EThekwini Transport Authority is a vital requirement for the successful implementation of these projects as well as for the on-going management of the complex transport system in the Ethekwini region.

The EThekwini Transport Authority represents an important delivery on policy at national and provincial level in terms of transport policy which was developed over many years. As the first transport authority to be established in the country, this is therefore a milestone initiative of national significance. The EThekwini Transport Authority will, inter alia, be responsible for improved transport service delivery by grouping transport functions into a single, well managed and focused institutional structure. 

It will also prepare transport plans for EThekwini Unicity and be responsible for the implementation thereof.

In addition to the functions I have just mentioned, the TA will:

  • Promote security in public transport
  • Encourage and promote optimal use of available travel modes so as to enhance the effectiveness of the transport system and reduce travelling time and costs.
  • In the case of subsidized services, it will determine fare structures and fare levels, and concessionary fares for special categories of passengers (including the elderly, the disabled and learners). The TA will adjust fares in consultation with stakeholders 
  • Facilitate the introduction of integrated ticketing systems and determine measures for the regulation and control for revenue sharing among the operators involved in that system.

This TA will oversee the establishment of an Integrated Intermodal System that will, in turn see the introduction of dedicated lanes so as to reduce congestion that has negative effect on passengers and productivity. One of the major infrastructural projects in which the TA will also be involved is rank improvement as well as the restructuring of taxi industry in the EThekwini Metro. What will drive restructuring is the participation of the taxi business in EThekwini bus contracts. (This will be a starting point)

However, the responsibilities of the EThekwini Transport Authority will not end there. It will have to facilitate reinvestment into our rail-tracks and the modernisation of train coaches. Rail safety will be one of the main priorities of the Durban Transport Authority. We have still not forgotten the KwaDukuza Train Disaster in 2002 in which 25 people died. This incident alone emphasizes the importance of reinvestment into our deteriorating railways. Projections for successful reinvestment into EThekwini Rail system indicate that R757 million will have to be injected to make the whole system work successfully. We suggest that this investment programme pays a specific focus on the following programme items:

  • The upgrading of train sets from 5-metre trains to 10 metre trains (R540 million)
  • The construction of Inanda Spur with a rail station at Link City (R120 million)
  • Umlazi line and signalling upgrades for bi-directional operation (R20 million)
  • Automatic fare collection equipment (R20 million)
  • Security surveillance at stations (R10 million)
  • Upgrade of railway technical equipment (R47 million)

I think it is necessary to emphasize that the EThekwini Transport Authority will deal with all aspects of financial management that pertain to the following project. In terms of the founding Agreement signed by all spheres of Government, EThekwini Transport Authority will have its own business plan which will be in line with the Public Finance Management Act.

It is my fervent hope that the establishment of the EThekwini Transport Authority will have a multiplier effect of attracting other related investments into the whole area.

Thank you.

 

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