Transport department increases by six percent

Loyiso Langeni
05 May 2015

Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters delivered her budget vote for the department, where she stressed the importance of the transport sector in implementing radical socio-economic transformation to address poverty, unemployment and inequality.

The transport department’s budget has increased by six percent.

Minister Peters said they are investing R53.7 billion which is a 6% increase in real terms compared to the 2014/15 financial government. The ANC led government has made an unprecedented commitment to high levels funding over the next MTEF period with the budget expected to increase to R59.3 billion or 11% by 2017/18.

Peters added that the programmes of the department of transport are mainly implemented through the 13 transport public entities, provinces and municipalities.

The Departments expects by 2016 that the Gautrain and the South African National Taxi Council to commence with the roll-out of the card system.

With five million cards expected to be used within the next five years.

Minister Peters said the taxi industry remains the most important part of our public transport system and according to the 2013 national household survey conducted by statistics South Africa, taxis are the preferred type of road transport.

“The taxis move 68% of the 5.4 million on a daily basis and contribute immensely to our economy. Serious interventions will be announced in the budget speech.” Peters added.  

Meanwhile one of the department’s key priority is to improve the country’s road network which has gradually declined.

The department will be assisting the South African National Roads Agency Limited in tackling challenges it is facing including funding.

Minister Peters said our key priority is to improve the state of the road network, reduce congestion and improve reliability. That is why the ANC government has invested substantially on the road network.

 

"We have also doubled the capital finding available to provincial and local governance so that they can tackle the maintenance backlog on provincial and local roads. There are over 6 million vehicles on our roads today than they were in 1994 and traffic look to set continue growing.

We have an optimistic view that we need more immediate and pragmatic focus and will be targeting those parts of the network that busiest where even minor hold up can turn into major delays.” Peters added.