Chairperson, half of the 12 main entities under the Department of Transport pose direct financial risk to our fiscal reliability. As such, it is a trend that requires urgent intervention and decisive reform.
The effect of having four different Transport Ministers in just three years, and over 15 current board vacancies between the 12 state-owned entities, SOEs, all contribute toward financial management inconsistency and constrained advancement.
A cross-cut analysis of entities on unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure amounts reveals that 89% have not been dealt with in the past five years. Consequence management seems to be totally ignored, evident from the same five-year analysis which shows that only 1% was recovered from billions of rands being affected.
Crucial modification necessities are needed in budget, administration and service delivery management of our land, water and air space regulation, planning and provision.
During the briefings with entities, the DA highlighted the gaps between performance outcomes and disappointing levels of transport provision, pointing out numerous and constant misalignments between key performance areas, indicators and outcomes versus what our pedestrians, cyclists, commuters, passengers and travellers experience on a daily basis.
As such, a meaningful number of recommendations have been absorbed in this committee report, all of which are
supported by the DA. Team Transport of the DA will apply shoulder to these and other much-needed improvements as they constructively engage with solutions and ideas promoting an open-opportunity society and working towards building one South Africa for all. Thank you. [Applause.]
House Chair, the EFF rejects the Portfolio Committee of Transport's Budget Review and Recommendation Report.
We reject the e-toll in Gauteng. We call all the people in Gauteng to continue with their legitimate civil disobedience and reject e-tolls.
Pravin Gordhan's private law firm, Werksmans Attorneys, looted more than R300 million now from the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, Prasa.
I rise on a point of order, Chair. We have Minister Gordhan. We cannot call Ministers by their first names. Rule 82!
Hon member, just be reminded that we refer to each other in a dignified manner. Thank you. Continue, hon member.
Mr Pravin Gordhan's private law firm, Werksmans Attorneys, looted more than R300 million from Prasa. The same company appointed by the same Popo Molefe who was appointed by Mr Gordhan ...
I rise on a point of order in terms of Rule 85. The reputation of hon Gordhan is being tarnished here. That he has appointed his private law firm ... If there is such a thing, a substantive motion must be brought before the House.
Hon members, I heard about the law firm, but if that is the case, I will listen to the Hansard correctly. Thank you.
The report fails to appreciate that part of the reason transport, in particular public transport, is dysfunctional in this country is because we have failed to expropriate land without compensation and
re-imagine a new South Africa - a South Africa in which the distance between work and home is shortened. A distance between home and school is walking distance. A distance between home, church, shops and even a shortened distance between our homes and health facilities. What is to be done?
Firstly, we must establish a state construction company to build roads and stop relying on tenders.
Secondly, government must buy locally manufactured trains and buses to stimulate local industrialisation.
Thirdly, we must subsidise taxis to lower the price for customers and remove all unroadworthy taxis.
Lastly, as an intermediate intervention, we cannot separate transport from land. Thank you. [Time expired.]
House Chair, this department is one of the key entities of our state which can unlock our economy and boost productivity. We all know that
transport is a fundamental component to the way business runs.
The report shows that this department incurs irregular expenditure in the amount of R107 million. The Auditor- General indicates that the department has not taken adequate steps to prevent this. If this department had performed without irregular expenditure and with proper management, the state could do so much this money. The department could have used it to build more trains or improve road safety.
By implementing a mandatory check of all road vehicles after three years ... and pay it into the e-tolls ... back to the contractors ... which South Africa never asked for ...
IsiZulu:
Khona ngempela ubani lomuntu esimkhokhela lama-e-tolls?
English:
The subject of e-tolls must find a resolution swiftly.
The Minister of Transport, the Minister of Finance and the Premier of Gauteng must come together and find a way forward.
The e-tolls have been the cause of much public outcry and do not have a space in our country.
In closing, we challenge this department to reduce road fatalities over the upcoming Christmas and festive season. We do not need drastic efforts such as reducing the speed limit but ... [Inaudible.] ... than ongoing effort. The reduction of speed limit will be not achieve... Anything is okay ... [Inaudible.] ... speed limits are ... [Inaudible.] ... disregarded ... [Inaudible.] ... the department together with the police need to ensure all cars adhere to the speed limit, no drinking and reckless driving and unroadworthy cars have no space in our country.
The IFP supports the report.
Afrikaans:
Huis Voorsitter, Vervoer is seker een van die belangrikste departmente in Suid-Afrika. 'n Kenmerk van 'n goeie ekonomie ... en ons kan kyk na die wreld ... waar enige sterk of ryk ekonomie is, beskik hulle oor van die modernste vervoerstelsels in die wreld. Ongelukkig is ons die teendeel daarvan.
Elke entiteit in die vervoerstelsel is belangrik. Dit is juis hulle wat die ekonomie aan die rol hou. Ons moet een ding onthou: as hulle nie funksioneer nie, kan hierdie ekonomie nooit groei nie. Om te kan groei, sal ons 'n baie beter vervoerstelsel in Suid-Afrika moet kry.
Wat die treinstelsel betref, die armstes gebruik die treinstelsel omdat dit die goedkoopste manier van vervoer is. Die treine is oud en afgeleef. Die sekuriteit op die treine is baie, baie swak. Een van die redes is ...
English:
... for the past 25 years, this government forgot to maintain and upgrade the Department of Transport.
Afrikaans:
Ek wil vir u s, ek was op 'n voorstedelike trein vanaf Johannesburg na Pretoria. Twee rowe ... een voor Kaserne ... een net voor Tembiza ... Daar is geen sekuriteit op die treine nie.
English:
Hon Minister of Police, it is time to bring the Railway Police back.
Afrikaans:
Die ander probleem by die Departement van Vervoer is dat daar soveel mense wat waarnemend is wat nie permanent aangestel word nie. Dit moet onmiddelik reggestel word. Een van die maniere is om weg te doen met regstellende aksie sodat mense op grond van meriete aangestel kan word. Baie dankie.
House Chair, the ACDP notes that this department is mandated to maximise the contribution of transport to the economic and social development goals of our society through the provision of safe, reliable, effective, efficient and fully integrated transport
systems that best meet the needs of passenger and freight users.
Of great concern to the ACDP is the failure of the committee to meet with the following entities due to the nontabling of their annual reports within the prescribed period. These entities are the SA Maritime Safety Authority, Samsa, Driving Licence Card Account, DLCA, the SA Research and Rescue Organisation, Sasar, including the National Sea Rescue Institute, NSRI. In addition, Prasa and Autopax received disclaimers, regressing from having previously received qualified reports. The SA Search and Rescue Organisation and the NSRI failed to submit their financial reports. Findings are still outstanding.
This is not the only committee to which a department and entities failed to report. Either they do not show up or they fail to submit their reports on time. For government to function efficiently, transparently, timeously, effectively and with accountability, it requires all entities to report when called upon to do so. Entities that fail in this regard are antagonistic towards
progress and the poor. Consequence management - starting with their leadership - must be effected.
The ACDP is encouraged by the manufacturing of some 600 X'Trapolis Mega trains for Prasa.
This department and Sanral - that needed an amount of some R5,8 billion - need to note the message from the public: scrap e-tolls. The next time you wish to introduce a user-pay system, involve the user in the process. Thank you.
Tshivenda:
Ndo livhuwa Mulangadzulo wa Nn?u tshifhinga tshe vha n?ea tshone, Komiti ya Phothifolio ya Muhasho wa Vhuendi yo ?angana na muhasho, vha go?ana, vha eletshedzana kathihi na u fhululedzana. Ri dovha hafhu ra ?angana na Ofisi ya Mu?ola Muvhalelano. Ndi zwone zwine rine vha ANC ra ?anganedza na u tikedza muvhigo wa Muhasho wa Vhuendi.
Muhasho une ra khou amba ngawo, ndi muhasho u re na zwiimiswa zwa fumiraru. Muhasho na zwiimiswa zwawo wo vha
na khaedu fhedzi ha vhambiwa maano a u dzi tandulula nga u lulamisa zwo khakheaho.
Kha ?waha wa muvhalelano wa 2018-19, muvhigo wa Mu?ola Muvhalelano wo sumbedza uri a ho ngo vha na odithi dzi soliseaho fhedzi a vho ngo swikelela muvhigo wo kunaho.
Zwi?we zwiimiswa zwa muhasho zwi fanaho na Prasa na Autopax a zwo ngo kona u swikelela muvhigo wavhu?i fhedzi zwo pfana uri hu vha na maano a u shandukisa zwithu. Na Minisita vho ita uri hu vhe na War Room [Nn?u ya u tandulula dzi khaedu] u itela u tandulula hezwi zwithu zwi sa khou tshimbilaho zwavhu?i. A ro ngo zwi litsha zwo sokou ralo fhedzi.
Komiti yo dovha hafhu ya ?u?uwedza zwiimiswa zwo shumaho zwavhu?i uri zwi ise phan?a na maitele ane a ?o ita uri zwithu zwi tshimbile. Nga mafhungo aya, rine ri khou tikedza muvhigo wa BRRR. Aa! [U vhanda zwan?a.]
Motion agreed to (Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.