international i-transport conference · keynote address by the minister of transport, ms dipuo...

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Keynote Address by the Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, MP, on the occasion of the International i-Transport Conference Gala

Dinner 03 September 2013, Gallagher Estate, Midrand

“Making Transport Work Better for All”

Programme Director

The Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Mr. Ismail Vadi

The CEO of ITS South Africa, Dr. Paul Vorster

The Chairperson of ITMP25 Steering Committee, Mr Jack van der Merwe

The CEO of SANRAL, Mr. Nazir Alli

The Managing Director of Johannesburg Roads Agency, Mr. Skhumbuzo

Macozoma

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Evening

Let me extend words of gratitude to the organisers of this very important

transport conference. It is a singular honour for me to be granted an

opportunity to speak and air my views on highlighting how we can best

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have transport infrastructure development and services that work best for

all our people.

I must also acknowledge the pool of knowledge and expertise that

comprises the participants in this conference. It also reflects that South

Africa is poised for a promising and exciting future ahead of us.


We gather here with a very positive belief and aspiration that transport

makes the economy and all our social services work effectively. Imagine a

South Africa with an efficient, affordable, safe, reliable and sustainable

public transport system that transports more than 65 percent of its

population with an accident rate less than 15 percent.

Imagine a South Africa with an aviation industry that is safe and with

efficient domestic and global routes with a very low accident rate. Imagine

a South Africa with well-maintained national roads, provincial roads, rail

networks and Integrated Rapid Transport Networks that link people from

townships to work, from homes and small towns to airports, from rural

remote areas to the heart of cities.

Imagine a South Africa with a Gauteng – Durban - Free State – Harrismith

Industrial Logistics Corridor that transports freight and create jobs for

people along the corridor. Imagine a South Africa with a KwaZulu-Natal

province that has a maritime industry that contributes immensely to the

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significant part of the country’s Gross Domestic Profit. This again is

possible but for sure we have to work as a team.


A transport system that works better for our people is not a dream - it is a

reality and a possibility but it all needs planning and coordination from

National, provincial and local government. This conference is one of the

best ways to address and improve the areas that I have highlighted.

As global economic challenges continue to face us, extraordinary

measures are needed to stimulate the South African economy. When the

global pressure hits, South Africa should not be found lagging behind on

transport, energy, water, power, telecommunications and other

infrastructure development projects.

As a country we have come from far, and for the past 19 years, a lot of

milestones have been recorded but nevertheless, we cannot afford to be

complacent. We still have a long way to go.

In essence, South Africa should have invested more than R1.5 trillion in

infrastructure development in the last 30 years. As we move ahead we

should meet, plan and implement our infrastructure projects with the

mindset that our projects that create jobs, improve the economy and

investment could have been at a much better stage of development.

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As the ANC-led Government, we also have a firm view that a well-

integrated rail, road and freight local and regional network plays a pivotal

role in strengthening regional economies.

As a prerequisite for investment and economic development, a massive

overhaul of South Africa’s public transport system is set to be implemented

over the next decade with expenditure on infrastructure expected to double

over the period in line with the country’s National Development Plan and

the New Growth Path development strategy.

As articulated soon after the establishment of the Presidential Infrastructure

Coordination Commission the country’s infrastructure development

including Transport will play a significant role in the determination of South

Africa’s growth targets.

We have never at any given moment forgotten that transport is central to

the strength of our economy and with regard to us rail, road, aviation,

maritime and public transport infrastructure are areas that we are striving to

address with a huge and concerted effort.

We are, however, of the view that in spite of various social and economic

challenges, we are bound to carry out responsibilities that should improve

our lives such as infrastructure development, rural development, and safe,

reliable and sustainable transportation services.

In light of current economic issues, our focus is to ameliorate investment

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opportunities, job creation and economic growth. We remain determined

that through various rail and road projects our plans for the 2013/14

financial year should be able to create a significant number of jobs.

We remain committed to building infrastructure on roads; ports, rail, energy

and telecommunication as part of South Africa’s infrastructure spend

objectives of billions of rand over the next five years.

Through the PICC, a 10-year project plan was developed and 5-year

priorities based on the following development principles were identified.

These are:

• Improving infrastructure links with rural and poor provinces.

• Balancing the development of new infrastructure with the maintenance

of existing ones.

• Addressing capacity constraints and improve coordination and

integration.

• Scaling up investment in infrastructure.

In addition, six strategic infrastructure projects have been identified with

transport playing a central role in all of them namely:

• Unlocking the Northern Mineral Belt with Waterberg as the catalyst.

• Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor

• South Eastern node and Corridor Development

• Unlocking the economic opportunities in the North West province

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• Saldanha-Northern Cape Development Corridor and

• Implementing Integrated Municipal Infrastructure Projects

All these strategic infrastructure projects have transport as providing

corridor linkages, the Durban-Johannesburg and North West are principally

transport corridors. The PICC framework gives us a blueprint of transport

projects over the next few years in the spheres of roads, rail and public

transport infrastructure development and services.

Key transport projects to be rolled out over the next few years in the

Durban-Johannesburg Corridor are:

• Development of Cato Ridge as a dry port

• Planned extension of commuter rail to reach Pietermaritzburg

• The development of the Harrismith as a logistics hub

• Gauteng Logistics Hubs including, Tambo-Springs, Central Rand and

improvement of City Deep

We have taken a firm decision to prioritize the NATMAP 2050 vision for the

Durban-Johannesburg Corridor transport improvements that will enhance

the freight industry and open up more opportunities to grow the sector.

The NATMAP 2050 vision forms the backbone of South Africa’s freight

transportation network and is vital in facilitating economic growth for the

country and the Southern African region.

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Its major objective is to deal with Infrastructure and Operational Planning

and Investments as well as Demand Forecasting over a 50-year horizon.

The National Department of Transport will continue to invest in the

following areas:

• PRASA’s rolling stock programme, stations upgrading, procurement of

new coaches and safety and security in trains.

• Construction, upgrading and maintenance of roads, including S’hamba

Sonke projects

• Investments in maritime skills, infrastructure and business opportunities

Implementing the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety and

the 365 Road Safety programme

• Improving and increasing the operations of the Rea Vaya bussystem in

all identified cities

As part of South Africa’s Public Transport Strategy (PTS) we are moving

towards an improved quality integrated Mass Rapid Public Transport

Network which includes rail, taxi and bus services.

Remember that taxis ferry more than 64% of the commuters, or

approximately 15 million people per day.

The intention and objectives of the White Paper on National Transport

Policy, Moving South Africa and the Public Transport Strategy is the

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provision of an integrated public transport that is reliable, affordable, safe

and that meets customer needs.

We have Integrated Public Transport networks which are being rolled out in

12 cities, Joburg, Cape Town, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City,

Mangaung, eThekwini, Polokwane, Mbombela, Rustenburg,

Pietermaritzburg and Ekurhuleni. All what we want is our people not to wait

for more than 20 minutes for trains, buses or taxis to travel to various

places.

We are embarking on a comprehensive rail upgrade that intends placing

rail at the centre of our freight and commuter movement. As rail is the

future backbone of our public transport system, we will over the next few

years invest over R40 billion in passenger rail infrastructure and services.

Recapitalizing the rail business of the Passenger Rail Agency of South

Africa (PRASA) also means that we must reinvest in both the existing rail

network and new lines in order to respond in a decisive way to new post-

apartheid spatial and economic dynamics.

A focused rail revitalization programme will become a key activity over the

medium term working with other departments in the economic cluster, and

our domestic and international partners in the private sector. PRASA’s

vision is to be the number one public transport provider by 2016 in high-

customer volume corridors and to be the backbone of public transportation.

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Over the next 20 years, PRASA is implementing a bold plan to transform

and modernize passenger railways in preparation for a modern, safe and

reliable passenger service starting by 2015 through the New Rolling Stock

Acquisition Programme.

Our Government has already invested R137 billion; and that is R123 billion

for the new rolling stock acquisition and R14.5 billion for infrastructure

upgrading and the construction of new depots. The feasibility study results

concluded that 7 224 Metrorail coaches are required nationally to meet the

passenger demand over the next 20 years.

Road safety remains a key challenge facing the department and society as

a whole. Reducing road fatalities remains one of our priority areas of

concern. Our experience to date is that road safety campaigns should be

conducted throughout the year.

We have to be more stringent in the application of regulations that regulate

road transport operations, law enforcement on issues such as vehicle and

driver fitness, driving hours behind the wheel and speed. The

implementation of these measures must be regarded as a priority by

provincial and local authorities.

As our road network is marked to grow and the proclaimed network

standing at over 535 000 Km we anticipate that SANRAL, municipalities

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and provinces will, as enjoined by the NATMAP, work together to develop a

sound and sustainable road network.

All sectors of our economy depend on roads to transport goods to all

provinces and areas of South Africa. The majority of goods estimated at

83% are transported by road and in addition forecasts reveal that freight

transport demand will grow by between 200% and 250% over the next 20

years.

This means that more pressure will be exerted on the current road

infrastructure and lead to increased congestion, increased vehicle

operating costs and ultimately higher logistics costs.

South Africa has a total of road network of almost 750 000 kilometres of

which 17 000 thousand kilometres is managed by SANRAL. The total

maintenance requirement is for the South African road network continues

to grow.

A good transport infrastructure is a driver of economic growth and

development. In the past few years, significant strides have been made to

improve public transport across the country, especially in metropolitan

areas.

Johannesburg and Cape Town attest to this. It is important that the rollout

of infrastructure is not just confined to the major urban and metropolitan

areas. We have a responsibility to redress the apartheid spatial patterns.

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Through the S’hamba Sonke provincial road programme, we envisage to

speed up the creation of jobs. Consultations with the provinces are on-

going; this includes the audit of roads that require maintenance. A

consolidated national strategy will be completed in the near future. Plans

are also underway to engage the taxi industry to find ways to enhance the

economic efficiency of the industry.

Freight Logistics forms a very important element of the economic growth in

the Country, SADC, Continent and globally. As part of this planning

process, freight logistics is taking centre stage, in that; it forms part of the

overall integrated planning objective as articulated in the planning

document.

The plan has identified key freight corridors within South Africa linking them

to SADC and the overall Continent. This therefore enhances the

streamlining process of freight flows across the borders within the Country,

Region and the Continent.

Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor will play a

critical role within the North-South Corridor currently underway, the Region,

Continent and the Global Village. Through the Port of Durban as the

gateway port for Africa, the Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and

Industrial Corridor remains a critical corridor for Africa.

Its institutionalization forms part of the following Work streams:

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• The Planning and Infrastructure Work stream, which deals with

identification of infrastructure projects, planning thereof and the

implementation process.

• The development of the Cato Ridge area suitable to a logistics

developmental environment, with the intentions to contribute to the value

chain within the corridor.

• Thirdly the Harrismith Freight Logistics Conceptual Framework, suitable

to be a strategic area for freight distribution and industrialization towards

the upliftment of the livelihood of the community within the area and

traffic growth to the corridor, and lastly the City Deep Container Terminal

as a Regional Hub for Africa and the various options for its expiation e.g.

Central Rand, Tambo-Springs etc and all other strategic inland terminals

around the Gauteng province.

Maritime safety remains one of the key strategic areas of focus. The

department has identified the need to upgrade the existing infrastructure

along our coast to ensure the safety of life at sea. Various options are

being considered to create a lasting solution. At the same time, the

department is developing a set of policies to increase investments and

economic participation in the maritime shipping environment.

Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen

I must say South Africa has a huge potential for growth. This potential does

not come overnight. This potential does not come and knock on our doors.

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This potential needs bright ideas, committed minds and a determined

workforce.

This potential calls for the top of the cream project managers and above all

this potential calls for a coordinated approach to the implementation of all

our projects without working in silos. This I have no doubt will lead us to

make some progress amid complicated economic challenges.

I also want to take this opportunity and announce that as we move closer to

our 2013 October Transport Campaign, provincial Transport and Roads

MECs, CEOs of Transport entities and all the relevant stakeholders must

work together to highlight all the progress and success stories of what the

ANC government has achieved for our people.

We are mindful of several Transport Projects that have been carried out

with provinces and entities and as we continue to address the challenges of

infrastructure development we also need to appreciate areas in which

government has gone and extended its muscle on service delivery and

enhanced the lives of our people.

The future for South Africa and its people is in the hands of Transport

infrastructure and the rest of other infrastructure projects but remember for

anyone to move from one project to another, from one province to another

and from one country to another Transport must do the job.

Let’s pool our resources together in implementing the much needed

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transport services and infrastructure that makes the South African economy

competitive, vibrant and above all a productive nation. Transport inevitable

makes the economy work.

I thank you!

international i-transport conference · keynote address by the minister of transport, ms dipuo...

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