Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister Ndebele, hon Deputy Minister Cronin, hon members, comrades and distinguished guests, I thank you.
Ndi sa athu vhuya nda ya kule, kha ri tende uri hafha shangoni hu na vhathu vho bebelwaho u sokou zhamba musi vha tshi amba. A vha koni u amba zwivhuya. Vha dzulela u amba zwivhi fhedzi. Zwine zwa khou itea, u zwi vhona nga i?o ?ivhuya arali u tshi khou ?o?a u zwi vhona nga?o. Arali u sa ?o?i u vhona zwivhuya, u ?o zwi vhona nga i?o ?ivhi. (Translation of Tshivenda paragraph follows.)
[Before I go any further, let us agree that in this world there are people who are always yelling when they speak. They cannot say anything positive. They always say negative things. Whatever is happening here, you can see it with a positive eye if you want to, and if you do not want to see it with a positive eye, you will see it with a negative eye.]
Therefore, I would like indicate that the transport system is at the core of economic growth. It is the network and supply for production and is central to the development of the economy. An effective public transport system includes integrating road, rail and air transportation. Privately controlled passenger transport must be effectively regulated and controlled.
The ANC transport policy ensures that we promote co-ordinated, safe, affordable public transport as a social service, and that we ensure that such a system is flexible enough to take into account local conditions, in order to make the best use of the available transport infrastructure.
Commuters are being encouraged to use public transport and should be actively discouraged from using cars. The revenue raised by way of a dedicated tax and/or levy must continue to be used to directly benefit the provision of public transport. Rail transport must be extended not just in the urban areas, but particularly in the rural areas where our people are most vulnerable and do not have the financial ability to pay for other forms of transport, thereby locking them into a geographically defined area. Rural areas require more frequent public transport and improved facilities at affordable costs.
Zwenezwo ndi zwe nda pfa Vho Minisi?a vha tshi khou dadamala khazwo. Vho vha vha tshi khou tou amba zwone zwo teaho. [This is what I heard the Minister elaborating on. He was saying the right things.]
Bus lines must act as feeders to the rail services or as prime movers if rail is not available. Taxis should act as feeders to bus and rail services or as prime movers if neither rail nor bus is available. The subsidisation of parallel services along a common route should be avoided as this is merely a drain on the financial resources of the state.
When coming to intensive labour and road maintenance, all I can say is that we commend the department for its commitment to promoting labour-absorptive construction methods. Part of the commitment involves there not being potholes on our roads. Indeed, there is a notable commitment to ensure access roads to schools, clinics, rural communities and public infrastructure. This construction of transport infrastructure should be integral to land and agrarian reform, education and public works in terms of job creation and development.
We must emphasise that the construction of infrastructure needs to be monitored across all our provinces in order to ensure that such a process leads to the creation of quality jobs. We support the new growth path of the economy, which is labour absorbing and equitable in its output. The infrastructural construction and revitalisation should lead to structural transformation and sustainable development.
Musi ri tshi ?a kha zwa mishumo, Vho Minisi?a Ndebele, vho no ?i zwi ?an?avhudza zwavhu?i uri vhugai i ?o ya kha vundu ?ifhio, nahone ya swika ya sika mishumo mingafhani. [With regard to employment, Minister Ndebele has already indicated clearly how much is going to be allocated to each province, and also how many jobs it will create.]
However, the department must ensure that it monitors the implementation of these commitments by all our provinces. There is a basis for these commitments to ensure that government delivers on its promises.
In 2007 the ANC said that the creation of jobs must be the central focus of our economic policies. This focus was translated into one of the election manifesto promises in 2009. Consequently, we are looking forward to a New Growth Path that will concretely do the following: identify areas where employment creation is possible on a large scale as a result of substantial changes in conditions in our country; develop a policy package to facilitate employment creation in these areas through a comprehensive drive to enhance both social equity and comprehensiveness; bring out systemic changes to mobilise domestic investment around activities that create sustainable employment; and create strong social dialogue to focus all stakeholders on encouraging growth in employment-creating activities.
Hezwi zwithu zwo?he, muhasho u khou zwi ita. [The department is doing all these things.]
We need a social partnership between government, business and labour in which we all commit to achieving the goal of a better life for all. Again, it is important to note that the road infrastructure construction momentum and job creation should be driven by our developmental state. This is to ensure that we deliver decent jobs and quality infrastructural construction at a reasonable cost.
We must foster the developmental role of the state in order to develop its capacity to lead the construction of society. We support the department's commitment to continuing investment in infrastructure and transport.
In conclusion, an integrated transport system and infrastructure require the necessary funding. The department shows commitment to major transport infrastructure construction and job creation initiatives. We appreciate increasing road maintenance and the grants to provinces, and hope that with this budget we can do much better. As the ANC, we support Transport Budget Vote No 37. I thank you. [Applause.]