KEYNOTE ADDRESS FOR THE SOD-TURNING CEREMONY OF JOHN ROSS HIGHWAY (MAIN ROAD 496 BETWEEN EMPANGENI AND RICHARDS BAY) BY SA MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, JEFF RADEBE, MP – 4 OCTOBER 2005.

I thank my colleague, MEC Bheki Cele for inviting me to this important event. It is also a pleasure for me to say that in KwaZulu-Natal we now have improved co-operation and co-operative governance involving the three spheres of government - national, provincial and local - all moving in the same direction. The result is that we are able to be at this sod-turning ceremony today to mark the commencement of work on the upgrading of John Ross Highway for the benefit of our people.

The port of Richards Bay is South Africa’s premier bulk cargo port and a vitally important national asset. It is the leading port in terms of volumes of cargo handled and the largest in the country in terms of land area. It also has a reputation for being the world’s best-equipped port for handling bulk commodities such as liquids, coal, anthracite, timber chippings and granite.

Richards Bay is the closest port to Gauteng, the industrial heartland of the country, so the road linkages are extremely important for promoting economic development and the future expansion of the country’s economy.

The need for upgrading the road between Empangeni and Richards Bay to four lanes was identified during the 1980’s. The national government finally announced in 2000 its intentions to upgrade the John Ross Highway and to declare it a toll road. When construction was about to commence in 2003, extreme public pressure resulted in the abandonment of the project. The road has since reverted to being a provincial road and the provincial Cabinet has allocated funding to allow construction to proceed forthwith. The provincial funding will also be supplemented by contributions from national and local government, and this will not be a toll road.

After the construction of the new eastbound carriageway, the existing roadway will be rehabilitated to become the future westbound carriageway.

This project will cost approximately R350 million. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport will therefore structure the implementation strategy to ensure that the Vukuzakhe Emerging Contractors play a major role throughout the construction phase and that training and mentorship is a critical feature of the project.

Based on a budget cash flow proposal spanning a period of four years, the tentative socio-economic targets for employment and emerging contractor opportunities are as follows:

Indeed, the economic impact is significant. Not only will road users be the beneficiaries of this project, but it will provide economic upliftment for the entire community. Already, the labour that will be utilised in this project will come from the communities thus contributing to the development of skills. Road infrastructure development by its nature creates additional economic spin-offs, and that is what we are looking forward to experience here between Empangeni and Richards Bay.

I am sure that you are all fully aware by now that the month of October has been declared “Public Transport Month”. The strategic goal of Public Transport Month is to champion the speedy transformation of public transport services.

In this regard, the upgrading of the John Ross Highway is designed to make the transport system serve the people. It is designed to create greater convenience and to provide adequate facilities. The upgrading of this road will uplift the area, promote economic development, create opportunities for jobs and give an impetus to the informal sector.

This project is an excellent example of what we want to do all over South Africa, so that we truly address the legacy of apartheid and make sure that our work benefits everybody - especially the millions of our historically disadvantaged citizens. The upgrading of this road also highlights the focus on an integrated transport system and an intermodal approach.

Even though the constitution does not describe public transport as a basic need (such as it does with regard to health, education, housing etc.), in government - national, provincial and local - we are doing our best to ensure that we develop a public transport system which is accessible, affordable, efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly. That has been government's approach. We regard public transport as a basic need.

At the level of transport, intermodal integration is one of the fundamental objectives of government. Our objective is that all over our country where we have large numbers of people living together and having to travel everyday to and from work or to participate in other economic activities, we will have a national transport infrastructure of accessible and appropriate facilities that provide easy access and meet the people's and the country's needs.

This is a significant bold step towards a systematic approach to infrastructure development through integrated transport plans and integrated development plans and it is an ideal way to ensure provision of transport to people wherever they live. In this particular instance, the improvements to this road will help ease passenger congestion in the area and enhance the commuting experience of the people of this great region.

Buses and taxis are important modes of public transport and they are also feeders into the rail mode of transport. These three transport modes together with others not mentioned here should be seen as complementing one another. This road belongs to you, the citizens of our country, and it is for you to take care of it, and for the public transport operators to provide quality services from it.

Remember:

• Public Transport makes the economy work!
• A better and sustainable Public Transport system is ONLY possible with the participation of citizens!
• Public Transport is for all irrespective of social status.
• Most South Africans cannot live without public transport.
• Improvements in Public Transport infrastructure is for better services.

In conclusion, may I take this opportunity to thank all those who have and will be involved in this project - professional teams, construction companies, workers and the residents of this area - who together made and will make it happen? Without you there will be no upgraded John Ross Highway.

Finally, together “Let’s build a South Africa that truly belongs to all”.

Thank You.

back