Chairperson, there is consensus that the more than 150 000 vehicles travelling daily on the N1 highway is untenable, particularly in light of the fact that traffic is growing at 7% per year on that freeway. The Gautrain project was built to alleviate this traffic pressure. Motorists were encouraged to get out of their cars and into the Gautrain. From the inception of this project, when it was first announced back in February 2000, it was billed as a world-class project.
Indeed, it should be considered that it was initially announced at costing R4 billion; and it was revised again in 2003 to R7 billion and again to R20 billion in 2005. It is now hovering around R30 billion. With this kind of money that's gone into this project, how is it that the entire project ground to a halt not once, but twice during this month because of cable theft? Despite the assurances that the cables would be buried under concrete, thieves proved that this was simply not the case. Why were alternatives not considered and used? Before the cables were stolen, extensive remedial work had been required to deal with excessive water seepage into the tunnel between Rosebank and Park station. It is because of this that Park station is still not operational.
How is it that this has come to light only now after so much of taxpayers' money has been spent? How is it that the security service provider for the train service strategic partner's group, which is a shareholder in the Gautrain consortium, was found not to meet the legal requirements of being registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority? As a result the directors of this company also resigned earlier this month. The reality is that, despite the Gautrain website describing this project as one with "high standards of corporate governance" and that it is completely transparent, nothing could be further from the truth.
The project is the largest and costliest transport infrastructure project ever proposed in Africa and it was never discussed in the Gauteng legislature or submitted to any significant public debate before it was approved and put out to tender. In fact, the transport portfolio chairman of the time, hon Jeremy Cronin, now the Deputy Minister of Transport, in a budget debate told this House that his information was that the project's cost was escalating "quietly and below the radar screen", although Members of Parliament were told hand on heart here in Parliament just a few years ago what the written in stone "absolute upper limit" was. At the time he was talking, the project was billed at R20 billion.
In November 2005 the portfolio committee, still led by Jeremy Cronin, held public meetings and subsequently advised Cabinet to scrap or postpone the project - this is not what I am saying, this is what really happened. However, the national Cabinet decided in December of that year to financially support it.
The lack in transparency and information available not only presents apparent surprises like cable theft, but also makes the public, the DA and myself very suspicious. Why is it that the budget, its costing details and shareholders' details for this project have never been made public, even after my request for these to the Minister? I smell a rat. If there is no reason to smell one, then why am I stonewalled every time I request these details? [Interjections.] The public deserves better treatment than to be left stranded, not only because of cable theft, but also because they are not being provided with the full details for this project.
It is time the Minister provides us with all the information. I will keep fighting to obtain this information that presently appears to be top secret. Thank you. [Applause.]