Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister of Transport, hon members and distinguished guests, transport infrastructure in general and rail transport in particular play an important role in the economic development of our country. We therefore cannot stop talking about them. Access to rail transport is particularly important in enabling every member of society to realise her or his potential and to participate in social and economic life. It thus contributes to the reduction of inequality.
For us to bridge the gap between the usage of rail transport and other modes of transport, we need to address the issues of rail infrastructure first and then make sure that rail transportation is accessible to all South Africans, irrespective of their geographic location.
There are many understated factors that hinder access to rail transport in South Africa. Factors such as infrastructure, public and private partnerships and many others will continue to haunt the system if they are not adequately addressed. Our expectation is that the budgeting process should steadily address the factors that hinder access to rail transportation in South Africa. Our President, in his 2012 state of the nation address, again highlighted the challenges of poverty and unemployment in South Africa, our country.
As part of addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment, the President invited the nation to join government in a massive infrastructure development drive. The infrastructure plan, driven and overseen by the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, has played an important role in the development of a plan that will develop and integrate rail, road and water infrastructure, centred on two main areas in Limpopo: the Waterberg in the western part of the province and Steelpoort in the eastern part.
As the President mentioned, using the developments in Limpopo as a base will expand rail transport in Mpumalanga, thus connecting coalfields to power stations. This will enable us to decisively reduce the strain experienced by road transport at the moment, as rail and maritime transportation are being developed.
The ANC-led government has made a breakthrough in this regard. We are really committed to getting South Africa moving. This process will also play an important role in the movement of goods in our country. Economic integration with our neighbouring African countries will be enhanced. This is a very good initiative for economic development.
Hon Minister, in conclusion, the challenges outlined above put a spotlight on the 2012 Budget Vote. What we noted was that the budget sets a good pace for addressing these challenges, with earmarked Medium-Term Expenditure Framework allocations further accelerating the pace.
The gains that the department has made in the past three years give us hope that, as the ANC, we are on the right path and that all South Africans will have access to all forms of transport, including rail transport. The vision and pronouncements that the department has articulated on the matter - which will totally reshape the landscape of transportation - are a case in point.
Issues like the use of rail transport and the upgrading of rail infrastructure, which have been neglected for years, should be fast- tracked. There is a need to financially assist institutions that are already implementing this exercise so that they can serve as models for other institutions.
I want to use my remaining time to focus on an important project known as the Greenview-Mamelodi Rail Capacity Enhancement and Modernisation Infrastructure Project. This project is close to my heart because its investment is in my own township, Mamelodi, and its constituency area, which covers Greenview, Mamelodi Gardens and Pienaarspoort in Mamelodi East. I visited the project last week and I am due to visit it again this coming Sunday with the group chief executive officer of Prasa and his team.
KwaZulu-Natal Metrorail spokeswoman, Thandi Mkhize, contended that based on their 2008 and 2009 assessments, the province should be running 465 trains daily with 57 train sets. Studies proposed that a further 10 train sets needed to be introduced in 2011 to handle the expected increase in passengers in KwaZulu-Natal. In May 2010, though, KwaZulu-Natal Metrorail was operating 402 trains with 52 train sets. During the same period, Cape Town required 120 trains a day but only 91 were running. Overall, Metrorail immediately requires an additional 720 coaches to be introduced into its environment.
Passenger rail transport could form the backbone of an efficient, affordable and reliable mode of transport. With its fixed nature, rail has the potential to ensure greater integration between land-use planning and transport infrastructure provision. This is vital in creating sustainable communities where people access the economy ... [Interjections.]
You must shut up! [Laughter.] [Interjections.]