PMR - Professional Management Review

The Department of Roads and Transport (DoT) has reviewed its organisational structure in order to improve service delivery. Plans to integrate and elevate the planning unit to a chief directorate have been executed. This new unit will consist of planning and policy management, monitoring and evaluation as well as knowledge management. The feasibility study on the restructuring of fleet management in the Province, aimed at improving the control and management of the Government fleet, is complete. A fleet management specialist has been appointed to develop control measures to curb the misuse of Government vehicles.

Risk assessment for the year ahead has been conducted and the Department will develop a Risk Management Strategy to mitigate identified risks. R4,2m has been set aside for the Accelerated Capacity Building in Government Flagship Project to ensure that Department personnel are equipped with appropriate skills. A recruitment and retention strategy is currently being developed.

The introduction of the Mpumalanga Roads Bill on 19th March 2008 brings to an end the ‘old order’ legislation. The Department has appointed a service provider to develop the Roads Asset Management System (RAMS) and Bridge Maintenance Systems which will assist in determining the condition of the roads and maintenance required. The Department commissioned a technical skills audit within the Roads Infrastructure Directorate in October 2006. The recommendations of the study will be implemented over a two-year period. R29,4m has been set aside for the procurement of additional equipment in the Department’s yellow fleet. New road construction methods were unanimously adopted. R10m has been set aside to improve the condition of the entire provincial network and 12 graders were donated to the Albert Luthuli, Bushbuckridge, Dipaleseng, Moroka and Thembisile Municipalities. Special attention is paid to the ailing coal haulage networks in the Gert Sibande and Nkangala regions. A business plan has been finalised and an application for additional funding from the National Treasury has been submitted. In the interim, construction of the Emalahleni – Ogies and Majuba Power Station– Perdekop T-Junction roads will begin. A number of other Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) projects are also in the process of being implemented at a budget of R35m in the Nkomazi, Mbombela and Albert Luthuli Municipalities. A total of R103m will be spent upgrading key tourism routes across the Province as part of the Department’s contribution towards the Heritage, Greening Mpumalanga and Tourism Flagship projects. R157m will be spent on the construction and upgrading of the 2010 and legacy projects in the Thembisile and Mbombela Municipalities. R106m has been budgeted for routine road maintenance during the 2008/09 financial year and R153m has been set aside for the completion of preventative road maintenance projects. The Siyatentela Rural Road Maintenance Project which trains women headed households to carry out road maintenance has been a resounding success.

The Integrated Rural Mobility and Accessibility (IRMA) and Multi – Modal Public Transport – infrastructure projects aim to provide safe, reliable and cost effective transport.

The Public Transport infrastructure projects in the Mbombela, Govan Mbeki and Steve Tshwete Municipalities are due to commence at a budget of R22m which will facilitate the integration of various modes of transport such as taxis, rail and buses. The Moloto Rail Development Corridor has been handed over to South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) for implementation. 4 000 bicycles have been donated as part of the non-motorised transport drive. Dubbed, ‘Shovakalula’ this project aims to improve the lives of learners who walk long distances to schools. The implementation of the Taxi Recapitalisation Project remains a key priority. The target of removing 80% of old taxis by 2010 remains a key imperative. The Operating License Board (OLB) has received 9 715 applications for conversion and approved 7 386 of which 5 384 have been uplifted. R3m has been set aside assist the taxi industry in preparing for participation in the broader public transport subsidy system.

A Provincial Traffic Academy is also in the pipeline, 59 additional branded patrol vehicles have been procured and 89 additional traffic officers were recruited. An Inspectorate Unit has been established to investigate corrupt activities at licensing facilities. Anti-fraudulent activities are also being combated through the Computerised Learners and Driving License monitoring system. The Province is investigating the shortage of drivers licence examiners. The installation of the outstanding electronics at Kinross and Ermelo weighbridges will be finalised by the Department at a cost of R9,2m.

Mthembu outlined a number of projects which are due to be completed within the next 100 days.