Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Transport, Mr Dikobe Ben Martins, chairperson, members of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, hon Members of Parliament, executive members, MECs of transport, acting director-general, officials of the Department of Transport, chairpersons of boards, chief executive officers of transport entities, distinguished guests, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, South Africa as a country has come so far. We have seen so much, but there is still so much more to do to ensure safety and security in our oceans, skies, on our roads and railways and yes, we can. [Applause.]
In participating in this debate and tabling our Budget Vote of 2013-14, I will draw attention to four related issues. Firstly, the safety and security in the transport sector; secondly, the key deliverables for 2013- 14; thirdly, the achievements from 2012 to 2013 and lastly, skills development and transformation in the transport sector. In this regard due to time constraints, we will highlight a few strategic projects for your attention.
Safety and security in the transport sector is a very critical instrument of our democracy enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. In the 2013-14 financial year, we committed R60 million for maritime services to improve safety in ship repairs and stevedoring operations to reduce casualties in the waters of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. [Applause.]
Our Maritime Safety and Security Development Programme is investing R6 million in the Boating and Inland Water Safety Project. The target market is the high inland waterway casualty and incident zones as well as vulnerable communities. This project will also embark on an education and awareness campaign while increasing access to surveyor's examinations.
The Department of Transport and its agencies, on behalf of South Africa, hosted the diplomatic conference on the International Maritime Organisation in Cape Town. This conference led to the successful adoption of an agreement on the implementation of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993, relating to the 1977 Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels. This is a resounding historic success for South Africa, who led an effective and intense lobbying process to ensure the final adoption of this agreement, which took 30 years for countries finally to adopt, and it happened in South Africa. [Applause.]
To practically implement the Torremolinos Protocol, we have committed R16 million to implementing the safe and sustainable fishing initiative with the aim of reducing the death of fishermen and providing safer and more efficient fishing vessels. Providing safety and securing waters is one of the primary roles of the South African Maritime Safety Authority. An amount of R15 million has been allocated to reduce deaths at sea and rescue human life through the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. [Applause.] An amount of R9,5 million will be used to prevent and combat maritime pollution and promote safety of the environment through the pollution monitoring and control programme.
It is time that we as a country realise the centrality and strategic importance of our maritime economic sector. Yes, we can. [Applause.] It is a travesty of justice that South Africa contracts other countries for transportation of all its seaborne import and export cargo. This we are committed to changing. We can and we will. [Applause.]
We are mindful of our commitments as a country towards the achievement of the targets encompassed in the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, but more so of our duty to provide a safe environment to our citizens pursuant to the constitutional guarantee of the sanctity of life.
As the Department of Transport, we do have the operational 2006 National Road Safety Strategy. [Applause.] It is based on the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and other policy precepts. However, as there have been major developments with the United Nations' Decade of Action 2011 to 2020 and the National Development Plan, we are reviewing our National Road Safety Strategy. Our road safety approach is comprehensive, co-ordinated, inclusive and integrated and has effectively dealt with and addressed the challenge of fragmentation and duplication of functions between the department and its agencies.
In this regard, the Department of Transport, together with all its roads agencies, is in the process of finalising a 365-day road safety programme that is sustainable and will run consistently throughout the year.
We are spearheading the construction of pedestrian bridges, sidewalks and speed-calming measures in rural areas and townships. The department will also introduce measures aimed at reducing fatalities caused by stray animals. We are also looking at the number of law enforcement officers and the capacity of critical road agencies.
The use of technological devices such as cellphones, laptops and iPads came as a positive revolutionary communication tool in this era. But research shows that texting, making calls and use of other in-vehicle information and communication systems while driving are serious sources of driver distraction and increases the risk of accidents, and this is real in South Africa.
We are in communication with the relevant stakeholders to find an implementable and sustainable solution. We want to remind members of the community and South Africa that the use of a cellphone while driving is a criminal offence in South Africa. We urge all South Africans and parliamentarians to join forces and participate in our road safety programmes.
Regarding key deliverables for 2013-14, the Road Traffic Management Corporation established the anticorruption unit. It has allocated R12 million for programmes focusing on corruption within the traffic fraternity.
The Road Traffic Infringement Agency, RTIA, has crafted a practical and efficient plan to embark on the national roll-out of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act in this current financial year. This roll-out will be preceded by the Aarto national summit, planned to be hosted by the RTIA, and the department within three to four months, wherein all critical stakeholders will be afforded an opportunity to show their commitment for the Aarto roll-out this year. For this programme, we have allocated R324 million.
For the Road Accident Fund, the enactment and implementation of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme, Rabs, legislation will signal a major policy shift in post-apartheid South Africa. The new dispensation will present an opportunity for the simplification of the claims process by removing the burden to prove guilt or contributory fault on the part of another driver.
One of our priority areas is rail safety. We are seriously concerned and affected by rail-related accidents, which claim lives in numbers. Rail fatalities in South Africa are yet another silent killer, except when many people are involved.
Hon members will remember the two major rail accidents that occurred in 2012-13, one being the Hectorspruit level crossing in Mpumalanga and the other the Cor Delfos-Kalafong collision in Gauteng. Preliminary findings are out. However, the Railway Safety Regulator has set aside R1,6 million to conduct two boards of inquiry which will assist the department and the Rail Safety Regulator to find the root causes and develop recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
To promote environmental protection, the Air Traffic and Navigation Services is currently in the implementation phase of the sustainability and climate strategy and environmental plan. The ATNS has allocated R385 million to rigorously upgrade the communication, navigation and surveillance infrastructure. This has been mentioned.
The national government, through the Department of Transport and the South African Civil Aviation Authority, bears responsibility for the safety and security of the entire network of airports in terms of legislation and international conventions on safety and security.
To enhance organisational efficiencies and address the challenge presented by manual record-keeping, the SA Civil Aviation Authority will now be moving to a R120 million integrated electronic business system. In July 2013, Sacaa will participate in the International Civil Aviation Organisation audit. This audit is a prerequisite for South Africa as a member state to be internationally recognised and given clear status on civil aviation safety and security. We want to assure South Africa that Sacaa will be ready for the audit. Yes, we can. [Applause.]
Coming to 2012-13 achievements in the transport sector, if there are pessimists who still doubt that South Africa is a place where all things are possible, who still question the power of democracy, and wonder if transport is the heartbeat of South Africa's economic and social development, well, the following sector achievements speak for themselves.
In 2012 the SA Maritime Safety Authority, Samsa, won the Africa Maritime Agency of the Year Award based on its contribution in Maritime Skills Development Programme. [Applause.] This is the African Maritime Agency. In 2012, here at home, Samsa - our state agent - won the Best Public Service Organisation Award. [Applause.]
The Rail State Regulator now has a penalty regulation. It also approved level crossing standards. This is commendable.
The ATNS, through the flagship of the ATNS women's development and mentorship programme, recognises the strategic imperative to provide a focused development and growth of women in the workplace. In March 2013, the University of the Witwatersrand's School for Economic and Business Science conferred inaugural Aviation Management Development Programme certificates on 13 Air Traffic and Navigation Services employees. This qualification is the first of its kind on the African continent. [Applause.]
Following a robust process and assessments conducted by the United States of America's Transportation Security Administration, it is with great pleasure that we announce to this august House today that as of 9 May 2013 the United States Transportation Security Administration pronounced that it recognised South Africa's National Cargo Security Programme as commensurate to the requirements of the US. [Applause.]
The ongoing collaboration and co-operation between the US Transportation Security Administration and the South African Civil Aviation Authority is critical to the enhancement of international air cargo security. This recognition agreement is the first on the continent and a huge milestone in terms of co-operation with other states on aviation security matters. [Applause.]
South Africa, through the SA Civil Aviation Authority has been appointed vice chair of the international civil aviation Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation, Capsca, technical adviser programme for the African continent. [Applause.] This is in line with the requirement to ensure Africa's presence in all aviation structures in the interests of a safer Africa.
Further to South Africa being a member state and council member at the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, our country has been newly elected as vice chairman of the Aviation Security Panel for the period April 2013 to March 2014. Our representative who has taken up this position is our Acting Director of Sacaa, Ms Poppy Khoza - a woman. [Applause.] The implications of such an election are that we are able to influence the agenda on aviation security matters globally. On skills development and transformation in the transport sector, the transport sector is one of the most male-dominated industries, be it road, rail, maritime or aviation, the same phenomenon prevails. To this end, we formed a women's forum within the department, within which there is an advisory committee that deals on a day-to-day basis with, among other issues, women empowerment, transformation, skills and capacity development as well as equity matters to mention but a few.
We have further revived the South African National Women in Transport, Sanwit, which is an all-modes inclusive structure that drives the emancipation of women into the economic development agenda in the transport sector.
One of our outstanding initiatives for women empowerment is the Women in Rail Programme, which is the Passenger Rail Agency of SA's response to the broader government agenda on the economic inclusion of women. With this programme we aim to improve the representation and facilitate technical skills development, and support women. The Women in Rail Programme is allocated R1 billion and, as the patron, we have committed ourselves to proving leadership and close monitoring where necessary. [Applause.] During 2012-13, the SA National Roads Agency Limited, Sanral, trained 21 034 people in road building projects at a cost of about R23 million, where 9 470 were women. The Department of Transport and its agencies took decisive action to invest heavily in the development and promotion of critical skills in the various sectors. In this regard, we have established centres of development that constitute 13 universities. We have also developed and introduced the transport curriculum in 8 further education and training colleges.
In its effort to develop advanced skills, human capital and institutional capacity within the maritime space, the South African government, through the Department of Transport, will enter into an agreement between the Republic of South Africa, the International Maritime Organization and the World Maritime University, which is expected to be finalised by the end of June this year. We are proud to announce that the first class of 2013 will depart South Africa to begin their masters and doctoral studies in maritime studies in Malm in Sweden in September this year.
We have in the past three years worked hard in order to put in place the Seafarer Training Programme. To the Seafarers' Welfare and Access programme, we have allocated R13,2 million for the provision of seafarer support services.
Sacaa, ATNS and the Airports Company of SA, Acsa, will together invest R52,4 million in a robust scarce and critical aviation skills development programme. To further address the challenge of attraction and retention of skills in the aviation industry, the Sacaa entered into an agreement with the University of Pretoria to participate in the training of students in aerospace medicine. The first 10 degrees were conferred in March 2013 this year. [Applause.] The head of Aviation Medicine from Sacaa has also been appointed as an extraordinary lecturer at the University of Pretoria with effect from 2013.
Our aviation agencies, in conjunction with the Department of Transport and relevant stakeholders, are currently developing an all-inclusive civil aviation transformation strategy that is the first in the country aimed at addressing transformation issues which currently records the devastating figure of about 4% of pilot licence holders being from previously disadvantaged communities.
In this regard, on 8 August 2013, the Department of Transport will also host a ground-breaking Letsema with the intention of forging closer working relations among ourselves towards the growth and transformation of the aviation industry. Yes, we can. [Applause.]
In closing, key investments in our infrastructure, such as the highly successful Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, GFIP, will continue to drive South Africa's growth and cement our position as Africa's economic leader, a position we have to work hard for.
I wish to thank the Minister, hon Ben Martins, for his guidance and support, all transport MECs, the acting director-general, the entire staff of the Department of Transport, staff at the Ministry in general, and my excellent-performing office in particular ... [Applause.] ... boards and management of state entities, transport industry players, the public and the media for supporting our programmes and work.
I must also thank the chairperson and members of the portfolio committee for participating in this debate and for supporting our work. Organisations such as the Road Freight Association, the SA National Taxi Council, the SA Bus Operators' Association, academia, and many of our important stakeholders, we thank you for your continued support and willingness to come to the table and engage with government on issues that affect our diverse industry with the goal of finding workable solutions.
We will continue to respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of the people: Yes, we can. Working together, victory is certain.
Mitirho ya vulavula. [Deeds speak louder than words] Sharp sharp! Heita daar! [Applause.]