Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon MECs, hon members and officials, let us acknowledge the road that we have travelled as the Department of Transport over the years to build an efficient, accessible, cost-effective and trouble-free transport system. An efficient transport system is the backbone of a prosperous economy.
Minister, your department has been able to bring down the death rate on our roads. It has been able to boost the economy through transporting goods from one destination to the other. Your budget is a movement through which greater transparency and participation in government budgetary decision- making can be attained. Our emphasis on this budget is to accelerate economic growth and development; improve the effectiveness of government intervention; improve the lives of those who have been disadvantaged; intensify the South-South economic relations; ensure that there is implementation of energy saving measures; and the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
The ANC-led government believes that this sector has the potential to create sustainable jobs and to grow the economy faster, targeting the 2010 World Cup and beyond. That is why it is crucial that the bus rapid transit, BRT, system should be brought to finality as a matter of urgency. The greatest challenge confronting us is that we do not have a well co- ordinated transport system. The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. The taxi industry does not talk to the bus industry and vice versa; it is similar in the freight, flight and rail industries.
The taxi industry is an industry that can improve our economy tremendously. Taxi owners must realise that there is life after the taxi industry. There should be visionaries who should venture into other businesses, like the bus, car manufacturing, petrol, spares and even the manufacturing industries. They could create thousands of jobs to improve the lives of our people.
The sooner we put the house in order, the better for the transport industry. For the industry to thrive, they must be made aware that transport is not their exclusive monopoly, but that they are a part of the industry just like other stakeholders. This reminds me of the words of a former Lesedi radio announcer, Thuso Motaung, who said, "Taxi owners, instead of counting rands and cents, are busy counting dead bodies."
The second challenge is to create an enabling environment for rural people and black farmers to do business without hindrance. These people should be assisted and supported to create a transport system that is reliable, cost- effective and efficient. Their products should easily reach urban markets. We should inculcate a sense of pride for them to do business in rural areas. They should not feel neglected. They are entitled to the same rights and privileges that are enjoyed by people living in urban areas.
In conclusion, we should never again allow a project like the Gautrain, because the beneficiaries of that project are well-to-do people. We carry the mandate of the majority of our people. They are the ones who should be beneficiaries. Mr Minister, we support your Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]