Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members and officials of the department, on 1 June 2011 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's space shuttle the Endeavour made its final landing, having made a total of 25 missions and travelling almost 200 million kilometres in service to mankind's travels to the great beyond. Transport has been a faithful servant to us as human beings and an important driver of economic growth.
South Africans are despondent. With the Gauteng toll road debacle, we have witnessed increases in the toll roads cost, now estimated at R14 billion, up from R6,22 billion, which excluded feasibility studies, design costs and supply of e-tags. The upgrading of roads is estimated at over R17 billion. Minister, why must the ordinary citizen pay for the mistakes of the government of today? [Interjections.]
According to the Minister, 40% of South Africa's provincial road network is all but lost to us.