COUNCILLOR R.C.KAYSER MMC Speech UNVEILING of the ROADS and TRANSPORT 100 DAY ACTIVITY PLAN

COUNCILLOR R.C.KAYSER MMC Speech – UNVEILING OF THE ROADS AND TRANSPORT 100 DAY ACTIVITY PLAN

Salutations

We are very fortunate as the Nelson Mandela Bay to be endowed with a history and an opportunity to showcase our vision and technology - in the deployment of all the modes and sectors of transport. We are proud that in the map of transport history of this country - we have the footprint, in the pioneering efforts that define Nelson Mandela Bay. Those efforts make it impossible and, in turn, inspire us to be stubborn that we will not be driven into the periphery of national discourse - when it comes to transport.

The contours of the valleys of this bay had served as tracks that guided towards a reconnection and reintegration of all the descendants in the Bantu chapter of the African people - the migratory Khoi, the San and the Nguni. We are also proud that this Bay has received, through our harbours, those who opted to settle on our shores and whose arrival by sea, was qualified by the first Deputy President of our democratic Republic - during the adoption of our Constitution - when he said, ‘’whatever their own actions, they remain still - part of me’’.

We also pride ourselves to have a history as one of the first to roll out a railway track to Avontuur in the late 19th century, all in support of our agricultural sector - that traded in animal hides, wool and deciduous fruits - a service that ran until the recent past as a tourist and sporting attraction - and which is aptly called - the Apple Express. We are proud to have a history that in 1905 - our airport received the first long distance flight in South Africa from Cape Town. All these events point to one variable – mobility, driven by transport.

It is this mobility that has required modes of transport over time - and as a science and as a technology – transport has to move with the times. The times are demanding of us to work smarter and to catch up with best practice - so that we can stand head and shoulders with other developing - and developed countries across the world. As a hub of the elephant – we need to derive amusement from the surprise on the faces of our visitors from abroad – who think we use elephants for our mobility and mode of transport.

1 It is my singular honour to be standing on the cusp of a roll-out that endeavours to support the goal and vision of transport – one of the key catalysts to the growth of our economy and by extension, the development of our country and one that sets us on par - with economies equal or larger than ours.

The White Paper on Transport, which was developed under the vision of that statesman to whom we owe the name of our Bay to - had defined the goal of transport as:

“ … … … the smooth and efficient interaction that allows society and the economy to assume their preferred form. Transport can also play a leadership role, for example in acting as a catalyst for development or in correcting spatial distortions. It follows from these that the priorities in providing and using the transport system should be consistent with those that have been set for the country as a whole.”

The White Paper goes on further to direct that, in order for us “to play this role, policies in the transport sector must be outward looking, shaped by the needs of society in general, of the users or customers of transport, and of the economy that transport has to support’’.

This effort, ladies and gentlemen, requires transport planning and design that will purport to integrate our communities, one that will link the markets of supply and retail and in the main – provide a safe, affordable and smart service to our commuters, so as to make mobility - a seamless exercise and one that is operating within a sound ecosystem.

The mandate that has been invested in my office as a member of the Mayoral Committee (MAYCO) for the Roads and Transport portfolio - is the articulation of an ecosystem that connects rail, road, sea and air transportation and turning our Bay – into a smart city. A city that makes the mobility to our activities of working, dwelling, schooling and recreation – second to nature.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have grounded this speech on a number of cutting edge technologies of yesteryear and today, as this generation – we would want to stake our claim in what future generations would regard as something that they can pronounce on, as we do so today – with pride. Libhongolethu, which means - our pride – is the public transport agency that this City is guiding – in partnership with the

2 minibus taxi industry and Algoa Bus Company - to provide a safe, reliable, fast and affordable mode of transport for our citizens. When all the conditions permit and statutory obligations are met – it is my singular commitment to roll out this rapid transport system - in the immediate future.

Rest assured that we will take our communities into our confidence, as well, to remind them that this system belongs to them. Commuter forums will be the real drivers of Libhongolethu and a stakeholder seminar will be conducted in this month of September – engaging everyone involved in the transport sector - from commuters, drivers, rank marshals and operators - with their associations. The IPTS infrastructure that has been laid out will be protected by this Municipality as it is public funds. Law enforcement agencies of the city will launch – in the Transport Month of October – the safeguarding of IPTS lanes and adherence to the road regulations regarding those lanes and traffic signals.

We are very eager to fashion the Nelson Mandela Bay as a smart city. A smart city thrives on a roads infrastructure that is well maintained, refurbished and rehabilitated. Our definition of a smart city is one that is responsive to the needs and complaints of our road users. It is the creation of an environment that saves both cost and time. Less time on the roads by commuters through a fast and affordable public transport system and reducing the number of private cars to ease traffic flow - which translates into less wear and tear of our roads is a saving – both in cost and time.

Over the next hundred days – we have a hive of activities that will keep all of us with our heads down – hard at work! We have work in progress in various parts of our city – contractors appointed and on site, also with their heads down – busy at work - resurfacing and resealing roads. The following roads and intersections will be resurfaced and resealed:

 William Moffett

 Dibanisa

 Burman

 Old Grahamstown

3  Kabega Road Bridge

 Aalwyn Drive

 Kruis and R334

 Cape and William Moffett

The following streets, avenues and intersections will also receive the same treatment:

 Tyinira and Jongilanga

 Woodlands

 Tyityaba

 Nkhukhama and Ntshembe

 Mitchell and Baird

 Diesel

The installation of traffic signals and responding immediately to the malfunctioning thereof, proper storm-water reticulation, unblocking canals and replacing damaged or missing manhole covers are some of the commitments that our Joint Operation Centre – which has a toll free number* - that will respond within 24 hours and provide the desired or required solution in less than 48 hours upon inspection. This scope of work will cover repairs and maintenance to, amongst others:

 Guardrails and roadside fencing

 Faded road markings

 Damaged street names and road signs

 Trenches

 Grading and re-gravelling of gravel streets

 Blocked open concrete and earth canals

4 We are a city hard at work and will appoint 192 EPWP workers to assist with the cleaning of storm-water drains and open ditches – as a matter of fact – 120 have been appointed already and all of those appointments have been made in response to requests by the councillors of those 18 respective wards - where reticulation is needed. The Molly Blackburn and Bantom streets storm-water ponds Kwa-Nobuhle that were featured in the media - will receive a major rehabilitation. The Walmer Storm-water master plan will be implemented with the urgency it requires and storm- water reticulation in flood prone areas will ensure that our rain water goes to the catchment areas. The culvert KwaZakhele will receive a major clean-up and the progress in the upgrading of Seyisi Square will receive the required attention from my office to ensure that, like all these projects - is done on time.

Today, we are standing next to the Swartkops River Steel Bridge – a bridge that is visible from the N2 and a landmark of our City. Taking a page from the books of our history, once again, this stands as testimony that we are pioneers in the transport sector as this bridge was originally built in 1879 – more than 135 years ago. This refurbishment has been initiated to prevent the steel bridge from rusting further and possible collapse.

There are many other bridges, figuratively and literally, that this administration will build or prevent rusting or possible collapse - to enhance cohesion and consolidate co-operation within our communities, so as to make this City – one that we will look at with pride.

Members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, I invite you on this journey in the next 100 days and beyond – to walk with us as we will be apprising you of our key focal areas in the consolidation of structural integrity in our infrastructure. As we resurface roads and resealing failing sections of roads on both our urban and peri-urban areas – we will take you into our confidence. As we walk into Transport Month – we will advance our intentions and our partnerships with other stakeholders and partners in other tiers of government (provincially and nationally) and state agencies (like PRASA, Transnet, Coega, ACSA and others).

I thank you, Enkosi, Baie dankie

5 *Toll free number – 0800 20 5050