Chairperson, the Department of Transport has acknowledged the importance of an efficient and sustainable transport system; one which will boost the economy of our country while at the same time providing commuters with a cheaper and more reliable system of transport.
The department's challenges in 2010 are big but not insurmountable. Government has acknowledged these challenges and has allocated R25 billion to the department to see that these challenges are met and overcome. The budget, however, is not unlimited, and in this regard the IFP urges the department to do things correctly the first time.
In Limpopo province substandard bridges and roads were washed away within weeks of their completion. This is totally unacceptable. In this regard the IFP urges the department to apply necessary due diligence before awarding tenders to unsuitable companies.
Many of our roads are in dire need of immediate repair, particularly in KZN where many of the roads in the province are in a very poor state of disrepair. In fact poor road maintenance is directly responsible for the large number of deaths on our roads. Furthermore, these poor road conditions have a negative impact on our economy, which we cannot afford at this time.
Are we ready for 2010? Will all of our transport upgrades and infrastructure developments be completed by then? Are we prepared to handle a taxi strike during the World Cup? Are the negotiations around cabotage with the major airlines concluded yet? We are 58 days away from the biggest sporting event ever hosted in Africa, and its success or failure will depend largely on our transport readiness.
The IFP is very concerned that the department is not doing enough to calm tensions that are rising in the taxi industry as a result of some provinces rolling out the BRT system. We therefore urge the Minister to engage to a greater extent with the taxi industry to ensure that we have no upsets during or after the World Cup.
The revamping of our airports has been a great success and the department must be commended for this. We are really proud of our airports.
It is vitally important to improve our rail infrastructure in order to reduce the number of heavy-duty vehicles on our roads. These heavy-duty vehicles, which often carry loads far in excess of legal limits, are destroying our roads, and a great number of these vehicles are coming in from neighbouring countries.
The Road Accident Fund must take cognisance of the great responsibility they shoulder on behalf of all road accident victims in this country. To this end we urge the fund to engage itself in greater public awareness and educational campaigns regarding claim procedures and policies so that the man in the street is able to lodge a claim should he be involved in a motor vehicle accident on our roads.
The IFP welcomes the increase in visible policing by the municipalities. Visible policing sends a clear message to citizens that we are serious about road safety and that we will not tolerate transgressions of the rules of the road. In this vein, we commend the Minister and the department on the decrease in road accidents over the Easter weekend. This is a sure sign of the success of the Arrive Alive and visible policing campaigns.
In conclusion, we would like to reiterate the Minister's own words when he said in the 2009 Budget speech that "It's not the wealth of a country that builds roads; it is roads that build the wealth of a country".
The IFP supports the Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]