By Bhekisisa Mncube
Pietermaritzburg – KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety & Liaison Willies Mchunu has announced that in this financial year, the department will create about 5 439 920 days of employment.
Sixty six percent of these jobs are earmarked for women and 14 percent for the youth.
Mchunu was delivering the R 8.066 billion 2013/14 Transport Budget Speech before the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature in Pietermaritzburg today.
He also announced that plans were afoot by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to launch the Durban to Pietermaritzburg Business Express Train at a cost of R31. 549 million. The upgrading will include the Durban and PMB premises and business lounges.
“It is envisaged that the train will be operational before the end of the financial year,” said Mchunu.
Roads Rehabilitation
The MEC also announced plans to deal with the recurring problem of potholes in the provincial road network.
“One of the challenges preventing the road network from fulfilling its core function is the high incidence of potholes in the province. Approximately 80 percent of our roads are more than 25 years old.
“The department has identified and quantified the extent of the pothole failures throughout the province. It is in the process of implementing a strategy that will mitigate the risk of failures as they occur,” he said.
Of the R 8.066 billion budget, 72% or R5.817 billion of it is dedicated to infrastructure development. From this infrastructure budget, R2.425 billion is allocated to construction and R3.392 billion to maintenance.
In 2013/14, the MEC said the rehabilitation of the provincial road network was to prolong the lifespan of the network.
He mentioned some of the major projects that will be undertaken which include: Main Road P47, located between Eshowe and Melmoth, and will include the rehabilitation of 50 kilometres of blacktop; Main Road P1-1 (M13), located between Hillcrest and Pinetown, and will involve the rehabilitation of 15 kilometres of blacktop;
Main Road P6, located between New Hanover and Greytown, will see the rehabilitation of 40 kilometres of blacktop;
Main Road P34, located between Bloodriver and Vryheid, and will also see the rehabilitation of 30 kilometres of blacktop.
Fighting the scourge of crime
Meanwhile, the MEC also delivered the Budget Speech component for the Community Safety & Liaison Department, which amounted to R 172 347 000.
He revealed that crime statistics in the province for the period 2009 to the end of March 2012 reflect downward trends for most crime categories.
“The police made a total of 280 641 arrests in the period 2011 to 2012.
“There are, however, crime categories which reflected an upward trend and require additional attention. These include burglary at non-residential premises, public violence and common robbery,” said Mchunu.
On police monitoring, the MEC said since 2009 to date, the department evaluated 355 police stations, assessed 81 victim support centres, evaluated 16 specialised units and conducted 67 interventions at underperforming stations.
To accelerate the fight against crime, the MEC said a permanent advisory and consultative platform in the form of the KwaZulu-Natal Council against Crime will soon be launched.
He said the council would comprise representatives of the Premier, Members of the Executive Council, the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, the House of Traditional Leaders, Religious Leaders, Business, Youth, Organised Labour, the Provincial Community Police Board, the KZN Community Crime Prevention Association and the Private Security Industry. – SAnews.gov.za
