Honourable Chairperson
Honourable Minister of Transport: Mr Dikobe Ben Martins
Honourable Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee of Transport
Honourable Members of Parliament
MECs of Transport
Acting Director-General and Officials of the Department of Transport
Chairpersons of Boards and CEOs of Transport Entities
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen,
 
INTRODUCTION
South Africa as a country has come so far. We have seen so much. But there is still so much more to do to ensure safety and security in our oceans, skies, roads, and railways and yes we can.
Honourable Chairperson,
In participating in this debate I will draw attention on four issues related to;
 1. Safety and security in the transport sector;
2. Key Deliverables for 2013/14; 2012/13;
3. Achievements; and
4. Skills Development and transformation in the transport sector.
In this regard due to time constraints, we will highlight few strategic projects for your attention.  

On Safety and Security in the Transport sector,
Honourable Chairperson, Safety and security is a very critical instrument of our democracy enshrined in the constitution of the Republic. In 2013/14 financial year for maritime services we have committed R60 million to improve safety on ship repair and stevedoring operations to reduce casualties on the Indian and Atlantic Ocean waters.

Our Maritime Safety and Security Development Programme is investing R6 million in Boating and inland water Safety project. The target market is the high inland waterway casualty and incident zones as well vulnerable communities. This project will also embark on an education and awareness campaign while increasing access to surveyor’s examinations.
 
Department of Transport and its agencies on behalf of South Africa hosted the Diplomatic conference on behalf of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Cape Town. This conference led into the successful adoption of an Agreement on the Implementation of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the 1977 Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels. Honourable Speaker this is a resounding historic success for South Africa who led an effective and intense lobbying process to ensure the final adoption of this Agreement which took 30 years for countries to finally adopt.
To practically implement the Torremolinos Protocol, we have committed R16 million to implementing the Safe and Sustainable Fishing Initiative, with the aim to reduce deaths of fishermen, safer and more efficient fishing vessels.

Providing safety and secure waters is one of the primary roles of the South African Maritime Safety Authority; R15 million has been allocated to reduce deaths at sea and rescue human life through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).
Honourable Chairperson, R9,5 million will be used to prevent and combat marine pollution and promote safety of the environment, through the pollution monitoring and control programme.
It is time that as a country we realise the centrality and strategic importance of our maritime economic sector, and yes we can. It is a travesty of justice that South Africa contracts other countries for transportation of all its imports and exports seaborne cargo. Chairperson, this we are committed to change and we can and we will.

ROADS
Honourable Members;
We are mindful of our commitments as a country towards the achievement of the targets encompassed in the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, but more so our duty to provide a safe environment to all our citizens, pursuant to the Constitutional guarantee of the sanctity of life.
Chairperson, as a department of transport we do have an operational 2006 National Road Safety Strategy which is based on the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and other policy precepts.
However, as there have been major developments with the UN Decade of Action 2011-2020 and the NDP, we are reviewing the National Road Safety Strategy.
Our road safety approach is comprehensive, coordinated, inclusive and integrated and has effectively dealt and addressed the challenge of fragmentation and duplication of functions between the department and its Agencies.

In this regard, the Department of Transport together with all its Roads Agencies are in the process of finalizing a 365-day Road Safety Programme that is sustainable and will run consistently.
We are spearheading the construction of pedestrian bridges, sidewalks and speed calming measures in rural areas and townships. The Department will also introduce measures aimed at reducing fatalities caused by stray animals. We are also looking at the number of law enforcement officers, and the capacity of critical roads agencies.

The use of technological devices such as cellular-phones, laptops and I-Pads came as a positive revolutionary communication tool era. But research shows that texting, making calls and other use of in-vehicle information and communication systems while driving, is a serious source of driver distraction and increases the risk of accidents, and this is real in South Africa. We are in communication with relevant stakeholders towards finding an implementable and sustainable solution.
We urge all South African, and parliamentarians to join forces and participate in our Road Safety Programme.

2. Regarding Key Deliverables for 2013/14
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) established the anti-corruption unit and has allocated R12 million for programmes focusing on corruption within the traffic fraternity.
Road Traffic Infringement Agency (ARTIA) has crafted a practical and efficient plan to embark on the national rollout of AARTO in this current financial year. This rollout will be preceded by the AARTO National Summit, planned to be hosted by the RTIA and the Department within the next two months, wherein all the critical stakeholders will be afforded an opportunity to show their commitment for the AARTO rollout later this year. For this programme we have allocated R329 million.  

For the Road Accident Fund (RAF) the enactment and implementation of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) legislation will signal a major policy shift in post-apartheid South Africa.
The new dispensation will present an opportunity for the simplification of the claims process by removing the burden to prove guilt or contributory fault on the part of another driver.

RAIL
One of our priority areas is rail safety; we are seriously concerned and affected by rail related accidents which claim lives in numbers.
Rail fatalities in South Africa are yet another silent killer, except when many people are involved.
Honourable members will remember the two major rail accidents that occurred in 2012/13; the Hectorspruit level crossing and the Cor Delfos-Kalafong collisions. Preliminary findings are out. RSR has set aside R1.6 million to conduct two Boards of Inquiry (BOIs) which will assist the department and the Rail Safety Regulator in finding the root causes and developing recommendations to prevent recurrence.

AVIATION
To promote environmental protection ATNS is currently in the implementation phase of the sustainability and climate strategy and environmental plan.
ATNS has allocated R385 million to rigorously upgrade the communication, navigation and surveillance infrastructure.
The National Government, through the Department of Transport and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), bears responsibility for the safety and security of the entire network of airports, in terms of legislation and international conventions on safety and security.
To enhance organizational efficiencies and address the challenge presented by manual record keeping, SACAA will be moving to a R120 million integrated Electronic Business System (EBS).  
In July 2013, SACAA will participate in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit. This Audit is a prerequisite for South Africa as a member state to be internationally recognized and given a clear status on civil aviation safety and security. We want to assure South Africa that SACAA is ready for the audit, and yes we can.

3. Coming to 2012/13 Achievements in the Transport Sector
If there are pessimists who still doubt that South Africa is a place where all things are possible, who still question the power of democracy, and wonder if Transport is the heartbeat of South Africa’s economic and social development, well the following sector achievements speak for themselves.
In Road Accident Fund the 2012/13 financial year saw a conscious improvement in customer-centricity, with initiatives such as the “RAF on the Road” campaign. The last “RAF on the Road” campaign in Mthatha in March 2013, direct claims worth more than R18,6 million were settled in a single day with the highest claimant (a 57-year old former schoolteacher left paralysed in a taxi accident) receiving R3,9 million.
The Rail Safety Regulator now has Penalty Regulation as well as an approved Level Crossing standard.
In 2012, SAMSA won the Africa Maritime Agency of the Year based on its contribution in Maritime Skills Development Programmes.  In 2012, here at home, SAMSA won the best Public Service Organization award.

ATNS through the flagship ATNS’ Women’s Development Programme (WDP) and mentorship programme recognize the strategic imperative to provide a focused development and growth of women in the workplace. In March 2013, The University of the Witwatersrand School for Economic and Business Science conferred the inaugural Aviation Management Development Programme (AMDP) Certificates to thirteen (13) Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) employees. This qualification is the first of its kind in the African continent.

Chairperson, following a robust process and assessments conducted by the United State of America’s Transportation Security Administration; It is with great pleasure that we announce to this august house today, that as of the 9th May 2013 the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) pronounced that it recognises South Africa’s National Cargo Security Programme (NSCP) as commensurate to the requirements of the US.

The ongoing collaboration and cooperation between US-TSA and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is critical to the enhancement of international air cargo security.
This recognition agreement is the first on the Continent and a huge milestone in terms of cooperation with other States on aviation security matters.
South Africa through SACAA has been appointed as Vice-Chair for the ICAO/CAPSCA Technical Advisor programme for the African Continent. This is in line with the requirement to ensure Africa’s presence in all aviation structures, in the interests of a safer Africa.

 
Further to South Africa being  a member state and council member at the ICAO, our country has been newly elected as  Vice Chairman of the Aviation Security Panel for the period April 2013 to March 2014, and our representative who has taken up this position is our Acting Director at SACAA Ms Poppy Khoza. The implications of such an election are that we are able to influence the agenda on aviation security matters globally.
 
4. On Skills Development and Transformation in the Transport Sector  
 
Women Empowerment
 
Honourable Chairperson,
 
The transport sector is one of the most male dominated industries be it in road, rail, maritime and aviation the same phenomena prevails. To this end, we formed a Women’s Forum within the Department within which there is an Advisory Committee that deals on a day to day basis with among other issues, women empowerment, transformation, skills and capacity development as well as equity matters to mention but a few.  
We have further, revived the South African National Women in Transport (SANWIT) which is an all modes inclusive structure that drives the emancipation of women into the economic development agenda in the transport sector.

Women in Rail
One of our outstanding initiatives for women empowerment is the Women in Rail programme which is PRASA’s response to the broader government agenda on economic inclusion of women. By this programme we aim to improve the representation and facilitate technical skills development and support.
The Women In Rail (WIR) Programme is allocated R1 billion, and as the Patron, we have committed to provide leadership and close monitoring where necessary.
During 2012/13 SANRAL trained 21 034 people in road-building projects at a cost of about R23 million, of which 9 470 were women.


Honourable Chairperson,
The Department of Transport and its Agencies took decisive actions to invest heavily in the development and promotion of critical skills in the various sectors.
In this regard, we have established Centres of Development (CODs) which constitute 13 Universities. We have also developed and introduced the Transport Curriculum in eight (8) Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges.  

In its effort to develop advanced skills, human capital and institutional capacity within the Maritime Space, the South African Government through the Department of Transport will enter into an agreement between the Republic of South Africa, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Maritime University (WMU) which is expected to be finalized by the end of June 2013.
We are proud to announce that the first class of 2013 will depart South Africa to begin their Masters and Doctoral studies in maritime in Melmo-Sweden in September 2013.
We have in the past three years worked hard in order to put in place the seafarer training program. For Seafarers Welfare and access programme; we have allocated R13,2 million for the provision of Seafarer Support Services.

Honourable Speaker,
SACAA, ATNS, and ACSA will together invest R52.4 million on a robust scarce and critical aviation skills development programmes. To further address the challenge of attraction and retention of skills in the aviation industry, the SACAA, entered into an agreement with the University of Pretoria to participate in the training of students in Aerospace Medicine and the first 10 degrees were conferred in March 2013.  The head of Aviation Medicine from SACAA has also been appointed as an extraordinary lecturer at the University of Pretoria with effect from 2013.  

Our Aviation agencies in conjunction with the Department of Transport and relevant stakeholders are currently developing an all-inclusive Civil Aviation Transformation Strategy; which is the first in the country aimed at addressing transformation issues which currently records a devastating figure of about 4% pilot licence holders being from previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs).
 In this regard on 08 August 2013, the DoT will also host a ground-breaking Letsema in Gauteng with the intention of forging closer working relations between ourselves towards the growth and transformation of the aviation industry, and yes we can.
 
IN CLOSING
Key investments in our infrastructure such as the much maligned but highly successful Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project- GFIP will continue to drive South Africa’s growth and cement our position as Africa’s economic leader, the position we have to work hard for.

Honourable chairperson, I wish to thank the Minister for his guidance, all Transport MECs, the Acting Director-General and the entire staff of the Department of Transport, staff at Ministry in general and my excellent performing office in particular, Boards and management of state entities, transport industry players, the public and the media for supporting our programmes and work.

I must also thank the Chairperson and Members the Portfolio Committee for participating in this debate. Organisations such as the Road Freight Association, SANTACO, SABOA, academic and many of our important stakeholders, we thank you for your continued support and willingness to come to the table and engage with government on the issues that affect our diverse industry with the goal of finding workable solutions.

We will continue to respond with that timeless creed that sums the spirit of a people – Yes We Can.
Chairperson, working together victory is certain.
Mintiro ya vhula vhula! Sharp sharp, Heita Daar!