Chairperson, during the period 27 June 2011 to 1 July 2011 and 24 January 2012 to 27 January 2012, the Portfolio Committee on Transport undertook oversight visits to the North West, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. We also attended a strategic planning workshop of the Department of Transport from 30 March 2011 to 31 March 2011 with the Department of Transport. Furthermore, we conducted an oversight visit to the SA Maritime Safety Authority, Samsa, from 2 August 2011 to 5 August 2011.
Our Constitution enjoins this Parliament of the people to oversee the functioning of the executive. As members of the ruling party, we will not shy away from pointing out areas of weakness in our governance system. This we do, cognisant of the fact that it is only by our being critical of what we do that we can better ourselves.
During our oversight visits to the North West, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, we established that there were problems around road maintenance and the capacity of the department to respond to challenges as they arise. Notwithstanding this, we also found officials who developed innovative ideas and concepts to ensure that the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality are addressed.
In this regard, we recommended the following. One, the standards of road maintenance must be addressed. There is a need for consistency in the manner in which existing standards are implemented. The Department of Transport should develop a single model for road maintenance. On this matter, we refer especially to the potholes that engulf our province and our country.
Two, the viability of imposing a fee on trucks that use municipal roads must be assessed because the money could be used for road maintenance. Three, the S'hamba Sonke programme must be reviewed as it relates to its modus operandi. Lastly, the people who have participated in the road maintenance programme should be accredited as this will assist them in obtaining recognition for their experience and acquired skills.
We conducted a specific oversight visit to assess the impact of the S'hamba Sonke programme. During our visit, we established that if properly managed, this programme could have a significant impact on the quality of life of our people. Based on our observations, we recommend the following: that there be development of synergy in transport planning matters across all spheres of government; that the funding model be reviewed so that it is based on the existing backlog rather than on the population size, as is currently the case; that the policy which states that only roads travelled by more than 200 motor vehicles should qualify for upgrading be reviewed; and that the department develop a strategy on scholar transport. Other recommendations are contained in the report.
Regarding the oversight visit to Samsa, in August 2011 we finally paid a visit to Samsa. Samsa is a key state institution involved in the promotion and protection of our maritime interests. In support of this institution and in the promotion of the maritime sector, we recommend that, one, the development of maritime skills be prioritised; and, two, there is a need to improve institutional arrangements between all organs of state that will play a role in the maritime environment.
Hon members, this is merely a summary of the findings and recommendations contained in our extensive reports. I move that the reports be adopted. Thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Reports be adopted.
Declaration of vote:
Chairperson, this report, as you know, deals with provincial and rural roads in South Africa which are in a state of collapse. The S'hamba Sonke programme is designed to address the backlog in road maintenance and this oversight report from the committee shows the flaws in the system.
Firstly, some money is available for this programme, but the uptake of provinces is just not there. The North West and the Northern Cape are particularly bad. They are just not spending the money. They are not doing road maintenance, and the intervention of the national department is constantly required to pressurise provinces to do their job and spend this money. That is unacceptable.
Secondly, skills are not available locally to conduct the maintenance in the provinces and in the cities. The urban provinces seem to be getting on with the job, whereas the rural provinces are collapsing because they just don't have the skills to maintain the roads. The wrong methods are used to maintain the roads. I quote from the report:
During its site visit the committee discovered that the provincial department contracted a service provider to repair potholes with cement on a tar road.
That is ridiculous!
Thirdly, the parliamentary oversight by this committee is not helping. We need a new road-to-rail policy urgently. On page seven, the report itself says, and I quote again: No progress has been made in repairing potholes on the roads since the initial visit by the committee in July 2011.
The committee went there, it went back, there has been no change, and there is no progress. The report speaks of returning in three months' time. Well, the committee never went back in three months' time. The committee has performed - listen to me now - zero ... no oversight visits from January 2012 until today, 19 March 2013. Why? [Interjections.] Nobody knows. Drastic action is required by government if our provincial and rural roads are to be saved.
There is not enough money, and this programme is not working because there are no skills to implement it. Government must take drastic action now if it does not want our provincial and rural roads to collapse completely. It's a crisis! [Applause.]
Question agreed to.
Report on Oversight Visit to South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) accordingly adopted.
Report on Oversight Visit to KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape in relation to S'hamba Sonke accordingly adopted.
Report on Oversight Visit to North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape accordingly adopted.