Introduction
Let me take this opportunity to thank the organisers of this media breakfast discussion panel for their efforts in putting together this event.
But the most important is to acknowledge and appreciate members of the media for honouring our invitation. We thank you for partnering with us in ensuring that the people of South Africa are kept informed about the transport national agenda.
Today’s session is taking place a few days after the South African government together with our media celebrated World Press Freedom Day on 03 May 2023: under the theme: “Shaping a future of rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for human rights.”
Our support for media freedom in South Africa and the world was expressed through our Government Communication Information and System (GCIS).
In a statement, the GCIS said, I quote: “Government reaffirms its commitment to uphold the right to freedom of expression, and independence of our media as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human rights.”
The government joined our media in commemorating World Press Freedom Day because we believe in the freedom of the media. We also know the pivotal and critical role you play in society and the world.
Without any shadow of a doubt, your role as an informer, educator, spreader and feeder of information to our people cannot be ignored at all.
Yesterday, the Department of Transport tabled its Policy Budget Vote 40 in the National Assembly, hence we have invited you as members of the fourth estate to share critical aspects of the budget and big projects to be implemented under this financial year.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As the Department of Transport, we have 12 State Owned and Public Entities under our belt. Our entities are very critical as there are the primary implementers of policy and programmes for the sector, hence so much of our budget is transferred to them.
Today, we have created an opportunity to have our Departmental Executive management led by the Director-General Advocate James Mlawu, as well as our Chief Executive Officers of our Entities unpack the work we are committed to delivering this financial year. Now you have in front you the Team Transport’s A-Team to share with you and South Africana tangible planned programmes for the sector.
The main focus areas for the Minister of Transport in this financial year include roads, rail, public Transport and critical policy and legislation which we believe will progressively accelerate our work.
Ladies and gentlemen;
As indicated during our Budget Speech yesterday, our budget allocation for the financial year 2023/2024 is R79,565 billion.
For the year under review, our total transfers and subsidies account for approximately 98% of the department’s expenditure to the tune of R77.9 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year. Of this, R47.2 billion are transfers to our public entities and agencies, and R30.2 billion are transfers to other spheres of government.
We believe the allocated budget will help us in rolling out amongst others our massive roads, rail network, public transport and rural bridges programmes amongst others.
Out of this budget, we want to highlight a few massive projects that members of the media should take note of.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, we have budgeted R42.6 billion to fund efforts to construct, upgrade and maintain the national and provincial road networks.
To this end, we have allocated R25.4 billion to the South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL). Of this allocation, R15.8 billion is to strengthen and upgrade the national non-toll network. I have as part of the panellists the SANRAL CEO, and he will further unpack our project mega projects which we will be focusing on in this financial year.
In RAIL, last financial year we committed to recovering 10 priority corridors and delivered 13. This financial year we plan to recover 16 because rail is still the cheapest and most preferred mode of transport by many of our people. We have budgeted R20.5 billion r PRASA this financial year. The Group CEO of PRASA is also here with us and will further tell us what our critical projects are, which are aimed at ensuring that our work to rebuild commuter rail continues in earnest.
Members of the media,
Our work towards delivering a public transport system that meets the needs of our people continues. Quite a substantial part of our budget will be spent on ensuring that our public transport programmes from Taxis, Busses right to our Integrated Public Transport Networks (IPTNS) receive the much-needed attention. We have the Director-General Advocate Mlawu together with the Deputy Director-General Mr Mathabatha who will drill down to the primary details of what is planned for our public transport space.
Programme Director,
I hope we are all aware of how much the COVID-19 pandemic affected our aviation sector, almost to a standstill. We acknowledge the tenacity of our CEOs Boards and staff in ensuring that even during difficult times, they stayed with the cause. We have registered quite a significant positive economic recovery in the sector and are still striving towards registering progress.
ACSA forecasts a passenger growth of 25.2% in 2023/24 and an increase in air transport movements of 17.3%, growing from 11.7% year-on-year. Their revenue is expected to increase to R5.7 billion in 2023/24.
Amongst the panellists, we have our Aviation CEOs, Ms Mpumi Mpofu for ACSA, and Ms Nozipho Mdawe for the ATNS. The ACSA CEO will tell us in detail about ACSA’s Airports Company South Africa’s Recover and Sustain Strategy, which includes ACSA assuming an active role to support provincial airports and investing in specialised airports and taking advantage of emerging opportunities brought about by technology in moving freight.
The Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company maintains its focus on providing safe, efficient and cost-effect air traffic management solutions and related services, with the bulk of its budget expected to be used on communication, surveillance and simulator systems. Its total revenue is expected to increase from R1.3 billion in 2022/23 to R1.9 billion in 2023/24. CEO ATNS, Ms Mdawe, will share with us the ATNS domestic and international strategic joint venture opportunities through their communication and navigation product offerings.
Programme Director;
We equally have CEOs and Executive DDGs and Managers who if asked will cover a range of programmes that we are focusing on for this financial year including Maritime and Road freight and road safety. Amongst these include the Cross-Border Road Traffic Agency dealing with linking Africa and freight matters. We also have CEOs focusing on issues of traffic management and road safety matters, Advocate Msibi and Mr Moloi, and Mr Collins Letsoalo of the RAF.
I must emphasise that we are bolstering our efforts to arrest the carnage on our roads, as South Africa we are part of the United Nations Global Road Safety Commemoration Week, whereas countries of the world we pause to reflect and showcase our efforts in dealing with carnage on our road. We are now in the second Decade of Road Safety which is 2021-2030. As South Africa we are intensifying our 365 Days Road Safety Programme to ensure that our roads are safe. We do please all South Africans and our tourists to observe the rules of the road, human factor accounts for 96% of the causal factors of accidents on our roads.
Programme Director,
This is Team Transport, there best of South Africa, and today we are here to tell our nation what we intend to deliver to the Transport Sector.
Sleeves are up boots are on the ground, and work is shovel-ready. And we are here to serve and deliver for our people.
