To add to this, 80% of the entire road network of the country is older than 20 years. We need approximately R75 billion over the next five years just to stop the spread of this disease.
One of government's initiatives, to add to the problem, is through the S'hamba Sonke project, creating an estimated 68 600 jobs. This is a labour- intensive project, which will cost R23,3 billion - taxpayers' money - over the medium term. We need to ask: How sustainable are these jobs and how accurate are the job creation figures? The Minister has stated that project management units will be established in all provinces by June 2011. Minister, has this been done?
The Minister reported on the strategy developed in conjunction with the SA National Taxi Council, Santaco, known as the TR3 2020. In principle, we as Cope agree with the strategy and its goals. Was any other association consulted in this process? Surely Santaco does not represent the whole of the taxi community?
We all know that the government was part of the establishment of Santaco. The Minister has acknowledged this once again. Referring to the taxi industry and Santaco as one and the same thing is wrong. It is interesting to note that Santaco and the Department of Transport occupy the same building in Pretoria. It would seem as if they occupy the same bed as well.
Reports indicate that approximately 20% of licence plates in Gauteng are forged. The figure might actually be higher. How will the toll operators ensure that genuine licence-plate holders are not charged for use on the roads by those with fraudulent plates?
With regard to "dodge the pothole", it is becoming a national sport in South Africa. Cope would like to acknowledge the work done to address the problem by both the private and public sectors. Much more, however, needs to be done. We need to ask: What happened to the R25,5 billion appropriated for the six metros in South Africa in the previous calendar year to address the problem? Minister, how was this money spent? What results have been achieved? I thank you. [Applause.]