Cape Town – Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti says the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services has started a process of rolling-out broadband connectivity in cities where the National Health Insurance programme is being piloted.
The Minister, briefing media on progress made by programmes in the Economic Sectors, Employment and Infrastructure Development (ESEID) Cluster, said the roll-out would also be extended to schools, especially those in rural areas.
The appointment of a network service provider was also underway.
“[A total of] 380 schools have been connected through Universal Service Obligations imposed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. The process will include classification of schools based on its proximity to existing network infrastructure.
“A total of 1 938 schools were equipped with facilities and computer rooms, and a further 131 rural communities provided with ICT equipment and services,” he said.
The Minister said the roll-out of broadband and ICTs will stimulate local economic development and promote economic opportunities for the youth.
BRT moving thousands of commuters
The Minister said, meanwhile, that government’s Bus Rapid Transport system remained operational in those cities that it had been introduced and that it was moving thousands of commuters on a weekly basis.
He said in Cape Town, MyCiTi was moving an average of 42 522 people against a target of 50 000 per weekday.
The Rea Vaya system in Johannesburg was moving an average of 33 670 people against a target of 40 000 per weekday and A Re Yeng in Pretoria moved an average of 3 000 people against a target of 10 000 per weekday.
Go George was moving an average of 7 630 people against a target of 10 000 per weekday in George.
“The construction has continued to expand the coverage of the system in the abovementioned and other cities in accordance with roll-out requirements and available funding,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister said roads and rail remained central to driving economic activity in South Africa.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) Rolling Stock Fleet Renewal Programme was underway, with one of the trains being manufactured in Brazil ready for delivery on 30 November 2015.
“In an effort to maintain provincial roads, 19.24km have been surfaced, 62km resealed, 18km gravelled, 821km bladed and 227 628 m² potholes patched. The provincial road network is funded through the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant (PRMG),” he said.
Regarding the progress of other key projects around the country, the Minister said the construction of three bridges in Mbombela, Bushbuckridge and Nkomazi in Mpumalanga was at different stages; the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has begun preliminary designs and other preparatory work for the upgrade of Moloto Road and the feasibility study for the construction of the rail factory in Ekurhuleni has been approved. This factory will produce 580 coaches and generate approximately 33 000 direct and indirect jobs.
The development of a cabotage policy to support the Oceans Economy programme of Operation Phakisa is nearing completion and a draft private sector participation framework for ports and railway sectors has been developed and is due for finalisation.
More houses gain access to safe drinking water
The Minister said, meanwhile, that infrastructure projects linked to drinking water were also progressing well.
He said 27 200 households recently gained access to safe drinking water.
“Two water projects funded through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant were completed in Masilonyana Local Municipality in the Free State and the construction of 15 bulk infrastructure schemes are at different phases,” he said.
The first phase of the Mokolo Crocodile Water Augmentation Project has been completed and has met all short term water requirements in the Waterberg areas.
“This will contribute in meeting water requirements for the Medupi and Matimba power stations.”
Minister Nkwinti said 3 978 households recently gained access to sanitation through the Rural Household Infrastructure Grant and 3 822 buckets in formally established areas have been replaced with proper sanitation services. – SAnews.gov.za
