Posted on Feb 19, 2008 in Speeches & Statements
Gauteng MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works MEC Ignatius Jacobs mentioned Gautrain as part of the the key commitments and priorities for 2008.
Media Statement by Gauteng MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works Ignatius Jacobs on the key commitments and priorities for 2008
Issued by the Gauteng Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works
19 February 2008
A Global City Region Perspective
Gauteng Provincial Government believes that transport is the heartbeat of our country’s economic and social development. In this regard, our province continues to experience successes in the implementation of the turnkey Gautrain Rapid Rail Link Project, a GPG initiative whose strategic objective is to significantly change the face of public transport, as well as the economic and the spatial content of our province.
Yet, even more milestones continue to be achieved on daily basis. In 2007/8 the project created more than 29 400 direct, indirect and induced jobs and by October 2007, the Gautrain Project had employed 41 people with disabilities. It is expected that total the employment will increase to about 33000 in 2008/9.
The Province is committed to have a fully functional Gauteng Transport Management Authority by July 2008. The GTMA will essentially also establish a common set of operating standards for all public transport operators and also lay a coordinating basis for the provision of a quality service.
Legislation is on the verge of being promulgated and work is already underway in order to achieve sustainable and integrated transport across Gauteng in line with the objective of Global City Region. One of the primary objectives, which will be taken up as a lead project for the GTMA is the establishment of a single ticketing system for all modes of public transport across Gauteng – an initiative that we aim to pilot by 2009.
The year 2008/9 will also see to the implementation of A Better Roads Plan whose purpose is to facilitate the pursuit of GDS and ASGISA objectives and also enable the integration of unity of service. This includes a protracted fight against poverty and underdevelopment.
A process is presently underway jointly by the three spheres of government to undertake a detailed review of the provincial road and public transport networks; develop appropriate standards for these networks; and consider the urgent need to integrate the road and rail based public transport systems.
Further than this, the metered taxi industry is now a fully democratized and formalized industry with democratically elected representatives who constitute the Gauteng Provincial Metered Taxi Council (GPTMC) and its regions. This is the end result of cooperative work between the Government and the metered taxi industry with the object to modernise the service.
In this regard, specific regulations have been developed with the involvement of active stakeholder participation and are ready for public comments. Government would like to encourage continuous investment in this sector in order to enable the industry to grow and provide a better quality service to the commuting public.
The 20 Prioritised Townships Programme
The province is working with respective municipalities regarding a programme to develop and upgrade the roads in the 20 Priority Townships in order to address the legacy of apartheid which resulted in huge backlogs. This is being done as part of the up scaling of the EPWP, and in the year 2007/08 a total amount of R262 m is currently spent as part of this project on township roads, with a further R320m being budgeted for the financial year 2008/09.
The 20PTP roads project is being implemented by small contractors between CIDB Levels 3-5. In Tshwane the roads are being built by learner contractors. We are thus building capacity within the industry as well. Alternative construction materials being piloted in close co-operation with the CSIR and the University of Pretoria.
Transport Infrastructure
Regarding the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme, the Gauteng Provincial Government and the National Government have confirmed SANRAL as the implementing agent. The scheme is an urgent intervention to ease the current congestion on Gauteng roads, and it is primarily focusing on the upgrading of existing roads, as well as construction of new freeways within the Initial Construction Works. The proposed major upgrades include work on the N1, N3, N12, N14, the Albertina Sisulu Highway (erstwhile R21) and the R24. This also includes the construction of new freeways such as PWV 5, PWV 9, PWV 14, and the extension of the N17 to the West Rand. Future Expansions of the total scheme include the PWV3, and K54.
In line with the 2010 Transport Plan the Gauteng Provincial Government will construct and upgrade transport infrastructure in order facilitate inter-provincial spectator movements between Gauteng and neighbouring provinces and intra-provincial travel between host cities, metros and district municipalities. The province will make sure that there is proper coordination, continuity and navigational signage on all Gauteng roads so that people can easily access stadiums, fan parks, exhibition sites, practice and training venues.
Regarding the maintenance of the provincial roads network, and as part of EPWP, the Government is deliberately targeting contractors of CIDB levels 1 to 4. This roads maintenance programme, has been identified as possibly the best way to introduce these emerging contractors into the roads construction industry.
Furthermore, there is a drive to support women and youth who endeavour to form co-operatives focusing on road construction and maintenance. Tender documents have also been revised to accommodate for EPWP requirements with specific emphasis on ensuring Labour Intensive construction methods are utilised in all contracts as part of the up scaling of EPWP in roads.
Infrastructure Maintenance
In November this year, we will launch the Gauteng Infrastructure Renewal and Investment Plan (GIRIP). This will be followed by an agency which will be mandated to give effect to such a plan. The Agency will take into account the need to position Gauteng as a Globally Competitive City Region. The underlying factor is to have tools that support the city region in its economic development aims.
In the financial year 2006/7 the department set up a new project under Impophoma Infrastructure Support Entity, the establishment of the Centre of Excellence. Core to this project is the training of youth to be artisans, to contribute to the creation of a modern infrastructure base, to develop the scarce skills needed to sustain economic growth. Currently, there are 1374 learners currently being trained under the auspices of this project, through FET colleges.
Implementation of the GPG Kopanong Precinct
Government is implementing the GPG Kopanong Precinct, a concerted drive to ensure both a unity of service as well as increased access to public service for Gauteng Residents. The work on this project has started, the buildings have already been assessed, with the works [of stripping and internal demolition] scheduled for commencement by the beginning of the week starting on Monday the 18th of February 2008.
We are confident that the first GPG department will be ready to occupy their new premises by the close of business this financial year. This project will be completed in three years.
Construction Update
- CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – JUNE AND JULY August 26, 2011A) CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION AND THE START OF PHASE 2 OPERATIONS On 02 August 2011 the second phase of the Gautrain System – the route linking Rosebank Station in Johannesburg to Hatfield Station in Tshwane – was opened for commercial service. This follows the initial launch of Gautrain services on 08 June 2010, just three days […]
