Chairperson, hon members and comrades, in March 2007 Cabinet approved the Public Transport Strategy and Action Plans 2007 and 2020. The socioeconomic objective of this strategy was to create a lasting legacy of a socially inclusive public transport system in South Africa. It was within this context that the ANC-led government began the process of providing infrastructure that could meet the country's economic demands, whilst also addressing social needs and the legacy of the fragmented apartheid transport system. As part of this strategy, the integrated transport plans and integrated public transport designs were developed. This set in motion significant public transport initiatives. In line with our 52nd National Conference Resolution on Economic Transformation, an important characteristic of the provision of transport infrastructure was to ensure that these projects and programmes translated in both social transformation and communities as partial plans to create employment. The emphasise since 2007 has been on making steady progress towards ensuring that rail is the backbone of South Africa's public transport system. Key elements of this rail investment strategy have been and are being implemented.
The logic behind this decision is a universal one in that you cannot build yourself out of traffic deadlock on the same roads and freeways. Therefore, the built environment must be complemented by effective transport regulation planning and management. The most recent national household travel survey reflects that 38 million citizens live in households with no access to a car; 14 million learners walk to school; 13,7 million citizens use public transport at least once a week; and 7 million workers and learners use public transport every day. Given these figures, which require an updated survey to be undertaken, present a formidable picture to transport planning and regulation. Transport infrastructure, therefore, must be commensurate with the needs of the people and the economy.
It is fully understandable that there might be a conflict between providing higher levels of service and minimising infrastructure cost on both higher levelled infrastructure needed for the efficient functioning of the economy and the infrastructure required for social development. However, given the long-term nature of the investment in the transport system, South Africa is building a strong base for the creation, maintenance and upgrading of its transport infrastructure. Investments are made after thorough analysis of the return on such investments.
In the case of the Gautrain, investment decisions were taken against a set of criteria which include lifetime costs; economic, social and other returns on the investments to the country; returns to the transport system itself; and returns to the commuters. Investment in the Gautrain project is actively meeting the ANC objective in terms of South Africa's public transport strategy which requires the effective promotion of public transport. The Gautrain presents freedom of mobility, builds business confidence and reflects pride in what our nation is capable of doing.
The immediate and continuous objective must be to nurture the public who perceives public transport as a practical, realistic and economic alternative to the use of private cars. Amongst the critical elements in an effort to build an efficient and sustainable transport system, safety in all modes of transport is a key priority of the ANC. Railway operations should embrace safety as part of its operating philosophy and this requires a great sense of responsibility on safety and environmental issues. Compliance to the dictates of safety requirements will not only impact positively on society, but also preserve the railway assets base and enhance and improve the competitiveness of railways.
The Railway Safety Regulator worked closely with the concession company since 2007 to ensure the safe completion and operation of the Gautrain rapid rail project. To this end the Railway Safety Regulator engaged the Gautrain project in the phases of design, construction and testing, and commissioned the conducting of safety reviews, assessments and inspections on all safety aspects.
The transport strategy requires the active promotion of public transport. The Gautrain project illustrates the commitment in this regard and strives to support priorities which are, among others, accelerated economic growth, as well as development and infrastructure delivery with emphasis on broad- based black economic empowerment and job creation.
Up to 8 000 people worked on the Gautrain during the construction phase. In addition, skills transfer took place during this phase on a massive scale. The local recruitment and training of drivers have also taken place. The Gautrain's driver compartments and control systems are more advanced than any other trains presently running in South Africa. The well-tested and tried technology that is applied in the Gautrain constitutes part of the public transport strategy. New rolling stock has been customised for the Gautrain, with 96 new rail cars made from energy-efficient lightweight aluminium. This is a first in South Africa; it is also the first time in many years that new rolling stock has been acquired.
The Gautrain is not only about a train; it is indeed a story of how far we have come and reflects the intention of where rail transport within the transport strategy is heading. It is about a new energy that has come to life that connects and integrates transport, bringing jobs to the people and people to jobs. We are confident, as the ANC, that we will build this transport that connects people to jobs and jobs to people because we as the ANC do not smell a rat. We are in charge of the country and we are doing our job. [Interjections.] I do not know why the DA sees their system functioning when the ID says the system is not functioning because only yesterday people in this province did not go home because there were no trains. I do not know why the DA could not smell a rat when the train was not going to move. We are in charge of the country and every aspect of the railway in this country. We are in charge. Thank you.