NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 719
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 07 AUGUST 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 â 2009)
Mr P D Poho (Cope) asked the Minister of Transport:
Whether his department has made any progress in respect of (a) improving
access to affordable public transport, (b) streamlining the freight
logistics network along key corridors, (c) improving operational efficiency
and (d) developing a regulatory system and capacity to ensure that
operators in the transport sector met the required safety and security
standards; if not, why not; if so, (i) what are the achievements to date in
respect of each of the above and (ii) to what extent has his department
succeeded in ensuring a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint of
the transport sector?
NW816E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
a) , (b), (c) and (d) (i) and (ii)
Progress in respect of Improving Access to Affordable Public Transport
The Public Transport Strategy of 2007 calls for Phase 1 Integrated Public
Transport Networks in up to 12 cities and six districts by 2014. These
networks form the first phase of a 20 year implementation plan that aims to
place 85% of a municipality's residents within 1 kilometre of a Public
Transport Network trunk or feeder service.
The period from 2007 to 2010 is characterised as implementing Catalytic
Projects to start the process. In this regard, the Rea Vaya BRT Starter
Service is the first major initiative to be operating and is currently
carrying 16 000 passengers a day at an affordable price of R5-00 for a trip
from Soweto to the Central Business District. By January 2010, this system
should expand to be carrying around 70 000 passengers a day and by
2011/2012, it should be carrying 400 000 passengers a day.
Cape Town is likely to follow in 2011, carrying around 100 000 passengers a
day, Tshwane in 2012, carrying 100 000 passengers a day and Nelson Mandela
Bay by 2014, should be carrying over 200 000 passengers a day.
The Department of Transport is currently working with the other cities to
complete detailed Network Operational Plans that will form the basis for
further projects.
Progress in respect of Streamlining the Freight Logistics Network Along Key
Corridors
Context
When the National Freight Logistics Strategy was approved in 2005, it paved
the way for the following:-
⢠Reduction in the cost of doing business in South Africa;
⢠integrated planning between the three spheres of government and all the
relevant stakeholders (including private sector);
⢠identification and mapping of corridors, as outlined in the Strategy
itself; and
⢠development and implementation of sub-sectoral strategies, etc.
Progress to date
The following are some of the corridors that have been identified and
mapped:-
⢠Gauteng - Durban Corridor
⢠Cape Town - Beitbridge Corridor
⢠Maputo Corridor
⢠Transkalahari Corridor
⢠Gauteng - East London
⢠Gauteng - Port Elizabeth
⢠Ermelo - Richards Bay
The identification and mapping of these corridors led to the establishment
of Freight and Logistics Forums, which created platforms of Government
engagement with private sector, including engagement with every South
African neighbouring country. There are currently nine of these Forums in
each of the provinces. Out of these Forums, projects were identified for
implementation, e.g. the N4 Truck Stop for the Maputo Corridor, the
Harrismith Freight Logistics Hub for the Durban-Gauteng Corridor, etc.
Through the nine Provincial Freight Databanks, which were first of their
kind in South Africa, the Department of Transport (DoT) managed to
determine the market share between road and rail in all the above-listed
corridors, including a determination on infrastructure planning and
investments on all the modes in relation to freight.
Subsequent to the identification and mapping of these corridors, the DoT
started a process of developing the following sub-sectoral strategies:-
⢠Road Freight Strategy
⢠Rail Branch Line Strategy
⢠Airfreight Strategy
⢠Port Reform Strategy
Road Freight Strategy
The Strategy seeks to achieve the following:-
⢠Optimum split of cargo between road and rail;
⢠reviewal of the axle mass limits;
⢠overload control; and
⢠improving the weighbridge network.
Rail Branch Line Strategy
It seeks to achieve the following:-
⢠Serves as mitigating factor on the deterioration of the secondary road
network;
⢠enhance seamless movement of cargo between the rural and urban
economy; and
⢠promotes private operators onto the secondary rail network, which will
further feed onto the primary network that is aligned to these
corridors.
The Strategy is at its final draft process for approval. This process is
jointly driven by the Departments of Transport and of Public Enterprises
and Transnet Limited.
Airfreight Strategy
It seeks to achieve the following:-
⢠Promotes the movement of dedicated airfreight;
⢠streamlines airfreight movement through a corridor approach;
⢠revives all airports that have potential to move airfreight, with the
possibility of decongesting the three primary international airports,
i.e. O R Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport
and Durban International Airport); and
⢠seamless/integrated movement of airfreight with other modes of
transport, etc.
The Strategy is at its initial drafting process.
Port Reform Strategy
The process of developing the Strategy is at its initial stage.
Freight Logistics Projects to date
The following are projects that have been identified:-
â National Freight Databank Update - intends to update the currently
outdated freight information.
â National Freight Information System - intends to achieve the
development of a centralized and computerized database, accessed by all
relevant stakeholders. Systems requirements in this regard have been
completed.
â Railway Branch Line Strategy - as stated above.
â Airfreight Strategy - as stated above.
â Cross-Border Optimisation Plans - intends to improve trade facilitation
at land border posts.
â National Freight Master Plan - intends to enhance an integrated freight
specific plan as a Blue Print for freight in South Africa going forward.
â National Freight Logistics Forums - intends to create a collaborative
platform between Government and the private sector.
â Port Reform Strategy - intends to create opportunities for more private
sector participation and competitiveness.
â Road Freight Strategy - as stated above.
â National Freight Monitoring Framework - intends to monitor freight
movement on a real-time basis.
The Department of Transport acknowledges that the implementation of the
National Freight Logistics Strategy would not be a smooth-sailing process,
but would particularly need political and financial support. It is,
however, against this backdrop that the Strategies and Projects identified
above are reported as work-in progress.
Safety and Security Standards
The current National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No 93 of 1996), provides
for the regulatory system that regulates the operation of operators. In
terms of legislation the operator is required to be registered as an
operator of the category of motor vehicle requiring an operator card. In
this regard the operator is bestowed with certain duties that ensure that
the operations of such an operator are conducted in terms of the provisions
of the National Road Traffic Act. This provision relates to the safe
operations, driver and motor vehicle compliance and requirements of any
other law.
Reduction in the Carbon Footprint of the Transport Sector
As an implementation of the National Climate Change Response Policy that is
being developed by the Department of Environmental Affairs, the Department
of Transport (DoT) is developing a Climate Change Response Strategy for the
transport sector in its drive towards a low carbon economy. As a starting
point the DoT is developing a
Greenhouse Gas Inventory for all modes of transport as a stock-taking
exercise of the carbon footprint. This will direct all future
interventions in the substantial reduction of the carbon footprint. The
Climate Change Response Strategy embraces the following:-
â The development of an energy efficiency framework for the sector, which
will include policy on the control of emissions from road going vehicles
among a range of options. This is being done in collaboration with
relevant stakeholders that include National Treasury, the Department of
Energy and the Department of Trade and Industry.
â The non-motorized transport policy currently being finalized will
promote less carbon intensive transport modes such as walking, cycling,
animal-drawn vehicles, etc.
â With regard to the carbon footprint in the DoTâs Forum Building,
Pretoria, my Department conducted an energy audit last year to determine
the use of energy, since energy usage is linked to the carbon footprint.
Following the audit the DoT has put plans in place to reduce energy
consumption and consequently the carbon footprint. The plans include the
following:-
⪠Replacement of florescent tubing with energy efficient tubes.
⪠Fitting of motion sensors in boardroom areas to control light
usage.
⪠Fitting of Energy Saving Extension Plug sets.
⪠Fitting of Solar Powered Perimeter lighting.
⪠Conducting Energy Saving Awareness Sessions for all staff
members.
⪠The introduction of energy saving processes such as the
implementation of both âno costâ activities as well as âlow-costâ
activities. The âno-costâ activities can be the âswitch-offâ
campaign, to have correct meter readings and to balance voltage
properly. The âlow-costâ activities can be the optimization of
lights, reduction of standby power, regulating of office
temperature and the optimization of operational hours.
⪠The Department has also started with the process of educating its
employees with regard to material energy reduction and the
replacement of the florescent tubing, as well as replacing the old
energy inefficient tubes with tubes that are more energy efficient.
⪠The Department has installed new water canisters which dispenses
hot and cold water. This will eliminate the usage of water kettles
in our offices and thereby decreasing electricity consumption in
the Department.
⪠Through the Department of Public Works, further training is going
to be rolled out to all staff at the DoTâs Forum Building. The
purpose is to vigorously raise awareness and change mindsets.