1. *Hon. JM Mkhatshwa, ANC, to ask the Hon. Premier

The ANC has progressively supported the sound reasoned and developmental considerations taken by the Demarcation Board to propose the merger of some municipalities in Mpumalanga which will result in few but viable municipalities for the Province:

i. Can the Premier share with the House and people of Mpumalanga some of the advantages for the merger of those municipalities?

RESPONSE:

After the 1994 democratic breakthrough, the government merged the then, racially segregated smaller towns to form viable bigger municipalities in order to ensure these institutions are able, within their administrative and financial capacity to:

  • provide a democratic and accountable government for local communities,
  • provide services to communities in a sustainable manner,
  • promote social and economic development,
  • promote a safe and healthy environment, and
  • Encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in the matters of local government.

Over the last few years, experience has shown that some of the municipalities are battling to fulfil their legislative mandates and core functions due to a variety of constraints. In the main, these constraints include:

  • The inadequate tax base to support sufficient revenue generation in order to deliver on the objects of local government as outlined in the constitution.
  • Limited or absence of industrial development activities to build a sustainable tax base to enhance revenue collection to fund service delivery programmes
  • Limited administrative capacity and financial viability

As a consequence, the merger of municipalities is intended to address these shortcomings in our local government system.

At the centre of the merger of municipalities, considerations were made in respect of the following advantages:

  • Ensuring an increased revenue base potential advantage
  • Enhancing administrative capacity to ensure that merged municipalities are better positioned to advance quality service delivery
  • Strengthening industrial development linkages to ensure economic and financial viability of municipalities

ii. Don’t we by now also not deserving a municipality, which can assume a status of a Metro? If not what should we do more to build a municipality, which can assume such status?

RESPONSE:

There are stipulations and guidelines in terms of Section 2 of the White Paper on Local Government and Sections 2 & 3 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, no. 117 of 1998, regarding the establishment of a Metro Municipality.

The White Paper on Local Government (published in March 1998) defines a Metropolitan municipality as a geographic area that has large urban settlements with high population densities, complex and diversified economies, and a high degree of functional integration across a larger geographic area than your normal jurisdiction of a municipality.

In terms of the Municipal Structures Act, 1998, an area that must be established as category “A” (Metropolitan) Municipality must meet the following criteria.

  1. Must have a high population density
  2. An intensive movement of people, goods and services
  3. Extensive development
  4. Multiple business districts and industrial areas
  5. A centre of economic activity with a complex and diverse economy
  6. Need for integrated development planning for entire area
  7. Strong social and economic linkages between constituent units

In terms of the guidelines, there is no doubt that Mpumalanga has a potential to consolidate and develop specific areas to assume the metro status. However, this requires long term planning and deliberate action to consolidate strategic development corridors, diverse industries and integrated sustainable human settlements that foster the development of a metro.

It is my considered view that Mbombela has a potential to become a metro. With careful planning, the consolidation of development linking eMalahleni and Steve Tshwete local municipalities, could deliver a metro for the Province.

iii. Can the Premier help the public and those opposed to the merger to understand the major service delivery advantages in the slimmer and merged Mpumalanga municipalities?

The proposed merger of municipalities in the province augurs well for the improvement of the financial viability and sustainability of the new municipalities for effective and efficient service delivery.

The provincial government is confident that the outcomes of the amalgamations will yield positive results in the following aspects:

  • Improved financial viability due to higher grant allocation and much added capacity for planning, execution and completion of capital infrastructure projects,
  • Increased number of consumers paying for rates and taxes thus improving the sustainability of the municipality
  • Bigger leverage and benefit from municipal property rates and increased economic tax bases due to the added number of residents, towns, businesses and industries
  • Integration of economies at a larger scale for competitive and comparative advantage with respect to local socio-economic beneficiation,
  • Redistribution of resources to the benefit of the poor as well as wider allocation of resources and taking advantage of the “economies of scale” for efficient and sustainable provision of services.

2.*Hon WT Madileng, ANC, to ask Hon Premier

The wind of change is blowing in South Africa, with new calls made to remove apartheid and colonial symbols in the country. Such demands have reached Mpumalanga with calls that the huge Statue of Paul Kruger in the entrance of Kruger Park must go:

i. What is the general view and the approach of Provincial Government in response to those calls?

RESPONSE:

At this present moment the Province through its Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation has not received any formal request or application to remove the huge bust of Paul Kruger at the Kruger Park.

However, the spate of violent defacing of colonial statues and monuments in the country has indeed also affected the Province with the second recent defacing of the statue of Nokuthula Simelane.

These are unlawful acts in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act 25. Sections 37, read in conjunction with section 30(14) provides for the protection of public monuments and memorials including statues.

Section 30(14) read with section 35(4)(a)(b)(c) and 36(3)(a)(b)(c) which both reads;

“no person may, without any permit issued by South African Heritage Resources Agency or Provincial Heritage Resources Authority – destroy, damage, alter, exhume, disturb or remove from its original position; any grave, archaeological or paleontological site, public monument or memorial”.

The Act however provides for procedures which must be followed in an event where such sites and structures may be disturbed.

The Province reiterates the recent sentiments of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Minister Nathi Mthwetwa that proper procedures and regulations as stipulated in the Act must be followed should there be any desire to remove any statue or memorial, and he said:

“As a result, it is advisable that a consultative process be initiated at the earliest opportunity in the process where the applicant must notify all relevant bodies, including applying to the South African Heritage Resource Agency or relevant provincial or local structures. But the entity or community that wants to move or remove the statue or monument will need to undertake a 30 day public consultation process. This will include public notifications that entail presentation to the authorities and inviting comments from affected and interested parties”

As a Province, we support the transformation agenda to ensure our institutions and symbols reinforce the values of our democratic order. However, this must happen within the confines of the law.

We therefore strongly discourage the defacing and vandalization and/or removal of all statues, monuments and memorials regardless of whether they are colonial or post-colonial without following proper procedures and guidelines enacted in the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999.

ii. What measures is Mpumalanga taking to rename our towns, streets and strategic places like government complex to reflect a new changed South Africa?

RESPONSE:

The Province of Mpumalanga has, in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act 118 of 1998 successfully facilitated the standardization of 215 national features since the inception of the programme in 2001. The standardization of geographic names entails the naming of new places, renaming existing places, correcting the spelling of names that are already registered and the registration of names that are in use but not gazetted.

Amongst the examples of the change that have occurred is the recent renaming of the town of Driefontein in Mkhondo to Saul Mkhizeville and the earlier change of the provincial capital from Nelspruit to Mbombela. The two count amongst numerous towns, villages, suburbs, rivers, dams and other features shaping our geographic landscape that have already been finalized by the Minister of Arts and Culture.

As we continue with this programme, a process is already underway through which the naming of the individual buildings housing provincial departments and the name of the Riverside Government Complex is under consideration in a consultative process that includes members of the public and other relevant stakeholders.

We expect that this process in particular, will yield a conclusive outcome by the end of the current financial period, 2015-2016.

To ensure broad-based participation in this process at all levels, we have set up the following institutional coordination platform:

  • Local Geographical Names Committees = at local level
  • Regional Geographical Names Committees = at district level
  • Provincial Geographical Names Committee = at provincial level

The work of these structures has translated into the naming, renaming, spelling corrections and the registration of thousands of names of local, provincial and national geographic features across the province. It is therefore important that all members of this house engage effectively with this programme and ensure maximum participation in their constituencies so as to ensure that the product of this exercise resonate with the objectives espoused to by both government policy and the constitution.

iii. What is government doing to address the racially offensive and divisive nature of the Innibos festival hosted and funded by our government in the Province? 

RESPONSE: 

As I highlighted in the State of the Province Address this year, we condemn and reject the divisive celebration of apartheid symbols that serve only to conjure images and feelings of a painful past for the majority of our citizens.

Incidents such as the inappropriate rendition of ‘Die Stem’ and hoisting of the ‘apartheid era’ flag at the Innibos event cannot be tolerated.

As the Provincial Government, our position is clear.

Events that celebrate arts, culture, language, history and heritage will only be supported by the Province if they are inclusive and intended to advance the objectives of unity and social cohesion.

We have engaged with the Innibos management and we are confident that we have reached a common understanding on working together to build a socially cohesive Mpumalanga.

  1. 3 * Hon AM Benadie, DA, to ask the Hon. Premier.

With regards to the recent Forensic Audit report that was investigating corruption worth R40 million at MEGA, can the Honourable Premier please answer the following?

i. Is the Premier aware of this report, has he seen it and will it be released for to the public in the spirit of transparency?

RESPONSE:

The Premier is not aware of a Forensic Audit report that was investigating corruption worth R40 million at MEGA.

During the meeting of the MEGA Audit Committee, a report requesting the Board to condone irregular expenditure was presented by management.

The Board did not condone the expenditure but instead requested the Internal Audit to conduct a special audit on this irregular expenditure to establish the cause and it was discovered that internal processes and controls relating to supply chain were not followed in most instances.

The Board further directed management to do a thorough analysis on the matter in order to take appropriate action and also develop a programme of action.

ii. Is the Provincial Government planning on holding former MEGA CEO Adv. Boyce Mkhize accountable for the corruption as depicted in the report?

RESPONSE:

At the point when he left the organization, the CEO was made aware that in the event that some irregularities are discovered relating to the time he was under MEGA’s employ, the Board reserved the right to pursue the matter notwithstanding the mutual settlement agreement entered into by both parties.

The Board shall determine this after the completion of the analysis currently being undertaken.

iii. What other officials have been found to have participated in illegal dealings and what remedial action has this government taken against them?

RESPONSE:

There is no evidence linking officials in illegal dealings. Appropriate actions shall be taken against any official discovered to have participated in any illegal dealings.

iv. What measures has the Provincial Government put into place to combat corruption and eradicate it from the public service?

RESPONSE:

  • All government institutions, including MEGA, have strengthened internal processes and controls to ensure that fraud and corruption are detected timeously.
  • The internal audit checks are conducted to ensure adherence to internal processes, policies and procedures. Where controls are discovered to be weak or ineffective, appropriate actions are taken
  • Supervisory reviews are enforced to ensure adherence to policies and procedures.
  • An E-procurement system will be introduced to ensure that all documentation is uploaded electronically and safe guarded.

v. Is the Premier still confident in MEGA’s ability to fulfil its mandate of building state of the art health facilities in the province, given the fact that Bulk Water was taken away from it, there is little progress on the Fresh Produce Market.

RESPONSE:

While the entity has not been performing as required in the past few years following its restructuring, MEGA is Mpumalanga’s anchor development finance institution with a primary role of fostering the growth and development of the provincial economy in order to help reduce unemployment, poverty and inequality.

MEGA is moving from being an internally-focused, reactive, financially unsustainable institution to a capable, credible and resilient development finance institution using smart partnerships with the private sector, leveraging government ownership and optimising the utilisation of its assets to make meaningful socio-economic impact.

We are confident that with the implementation of its turnaround strategy, MEGA will begin to make a meaningful impact in the Province.

4. *Hon. MC Sedibe, EFF, to ask the Hon. Premier

The Integrity Unit is housed in your office and one of its objectives is to ensure that all Provincial Departments, SOE, Municipalities and all government officials conduct themselves in a manner befitting and in line with the legislation and other Acts e.g. PFMA, MFMA, PSRA etc.

i. Can the Honourable Premier explain to the House as to why most of the senior officials in the various level of government as mentioned above including HODs, CEOs, CFOs and Municipal Managers are not subjected to vetting before they are appointed?

RESPONSE:

Senior officials including HOD’s, CEO’s CFO’s and MM’s are only subjected to security screening before appointment. The vetting follows immediately after appointment as vetting takes long period and depends on individuals information required the before issuing a security clearance certificates by the State Security Agency.

i. Why most of them do not possess the security clearances as required by the Act?

RESPONSE:

The Senior Officials are receiving their security clearance certificates at different periods and such security clearances are subject to expire at different periods depending on the movement of officials according to the official responsibilities given to such officials.

iii. Can the Hon. Premier also explain to the House the number of corruption, irregularities and misconduct cases reported against Provincial Departments, Municipalities, SOE and individual officials and share with the House the nature of each case and the action taken by his office? 

RESPONSE: 

In total, the Integrity Management Unit had 401 corruption and irregularities cases in 2014/2015 Financial year of the 258 cases on hand, 127 case were investigated and finalized during the 2014/2015 Financial year.

The nature of the cases range from corruption, fraud, misuse of State property and irregularities in appointment of personnel.

Misconduct cases by individual officials:

This Office had 954 misconduct cases in all Departments combined, 499 cases were finalized making it 52%. 455 cases are underway making an average of 47, 69%.

Most officials were charged with a variety of acts of misconduct including, but not limited to the following:

  • Absenteeism
  • Misuses of state property
  • Negligence
  • Fraud corruption
  • Insubordination
  • Assault 

5.*Hon. C Maunye, BRA, to ask the Hon. Premier

Honourable Premier in your State of the Province Address you have announced R1.7 billion for investment in the construction of roads to enhance mobility and support the economy with the Department of Public Works as an implementing agent:

i. Is the Honourable Premier aware that for the past Financial Years of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 project implemented through public works continue to be delayed in initial set completion time with other projects reaching a maximum of 250%?

RESPONSE:

Numerous factors have led to the untimely completion of projects beyond their original planned completion date. Such factors common to contractors include slow progress, poor quality of works, cash flow constraint and lack of technical capacity. Other unforeseen factors include incessant rainfall and social commotions.

When there is an occurrence of any of the above factors, an application for extension is applied for by the contractor. If approved, the original completion date of the project is then revised.

The Annual Report 2013/14 for the Public Works shows the completion of a total number of eighty-nine (89) projects in which seventy-one (71) were completed within contractual time.

Notwithstanding, projects such as Wonderfontein Clinic, Tweenfontein and Greenside community health centres have spanned over 250% of their original duration for reasons such as service connections and scope omission.

ii. Can the Honourable Premier explain why the Executive Council don’t consider to allow other departments to implement maintenance and renovation projects with cost estimates below R5 Million on their own and capacitate them with Project Management Unit?

RESPONSE:

Honourable Member, the Client Departments currently do not have sufficient technical capacity to attend to the maintenance backlogs and hence still rely on the competency of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT).

Despite this, we have taken steps to ensure that selected Departments build minimum capacity to deal with maintenance challenges.

The Department of Health has appointed maintenance teams at district level to undertake general maintenance and repair works in both hospitals and clinics.

On the other hand, Department of Education is currently finalizing its School Maintenance Strategy which looks at the formation of maintenance teams per district to attend to school maintenance needs.

In terms of the current arrangement, the Department of Public Works Roads and Transport carries out new, upgrade, additions, rehabilitation, renovations and major maintenance works on behalf for all client departments.

iii. How many contractors were terminated and blacklisted for failure to meet contractual obligation with regard to completion?

RESPONSE:

A total number of three (3) contractors’ appointments were terminated in the 2013/14 financial year and five (5) contractors in the 2014/15 financial year.

The main reasons for termination were failure to meet contractual performance obligations such as sound quality of works, progress according to plan and resource availability.

iv. What additional measures is the Executive Council doing to ensure that contractors appointed adhere to completion time?

RESPONSE:

The following measures and structure are currently in place to ensure timely completion of projects:-

  • The implementation of the Infrastructure Delivery Management System (IDMS) to improve project life-cycle planning, management, procurement, implementation, monitoring and maintenance.

The IDMS if fully complied to ensure implementation of best project management practices, hence improving on project planning and timely completion of projects.

  • Payment of Service Providers within thirty (30) days to ensure that non-payment of service providers does not cause delays and the late completion of projects
  • Strengthening governance structures to ensure that the implementation of projects is closely monitored.

In this regard, the following governance structures are in place to monitor project / programme performance on a regular basis:

  • Premier’s Provincial Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (PPICC) Meetings
  • Joint Operation Committee (JOC)
  • Project Operation Management Meeting (POMM)
  • Consultants Review Meetings

6.* Hon. PS Ngomane, ANC to ask Hon Premier.

The Executive Council of Mpumalanga has taken a progressive decision to review and increase the funding baseline of the Health Department in the Province:

i. Can the Premier broadly unpack the advantages, which will come with such a progressive decision?

RESPONSE:

Over the past financial years, the Department of Health has not been funded according to the norm. As a result, this had a negative impact on the appropriate funding of the different programmes within the Department.

With the Executive Council Resolution to increase the funding allocation of the Department of Health, this reflects a start towards correcting the previous funding allocation shortfall. What the advantage that this intervention brings about, is that the Department will be able to gradually meet its obligations with minimal additional funding pressures.

ii. Will this decision help to intervene on challenges of medical and support stuff personnel in our health facilities in the Province?

RESPONSE: 

The decision will assist in addressing and improving some of the challenges of medical and support staff in the Province e.g.

  • the Department can now increase the training of nursing personnel as well as medical bursary allocation;
  • The Department will be able to increase the number of medical personnel that can be employed.
  • How far will this intervention contribute to addressing core issues identified in the turnaround strategy of the Department of Health? 

RESPONSE:

This intervention will contribute as follows:

  • appointment and filling of critical vacancies at Provincial level and hospital level by staffing the Executive Management positions;
  • the Department can undertake ICT connectivity of its facilities;
  • Portion of the funding is allocated towards addressing the budget pressures with regard to the key cost drivers (e.g. medicine, blood, NHLS etc.);
  • the Department will be in a position to upscale its training programmes to capacitate its personnel. 

7.* Hon. GC Shabalala, ANC, to ask the Hon. Premier

Statistics has been undisputed that to date Mpumalanga is a better place to live in since 1994. The poverty rate in Mpumalanga declined from 43.7% in 2009 to 36.5% in 2013. The number of people below the lower bound poverty line declined from 1.529 million in 2013: 

i. What could be some of the government progressive policies responsible in this decline of worse of form of poverty?

RESPONSE:

In the main, government’s policies to provide the social security net to cushion the poor have made a significant contribution to declining poverty levels.

As a Province, we have implemented a number of interventions targeted at the poor and vulnerable sectors of our society. Amongst others, we have implemented the following policy interventions:

  • The roll-out of infrastructure programmes such as the construction of roads, health facilities, schools and human settlements has created opportunities for many poor people to irk out a living and increase income levels
  • The implementation of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme has, over the years, benefited many poor people, including women and the youth.
  • Our expanded public works programme continues to provide opportunities for income and skills development, benefiting many poor people
  • Improve participation in agricultural production has contributed to addressing food security challenges and enabled rural communities to earn incomes from surplus produce
  • A targeted focus on small business and cooperatives development has created opportunities for broad-based participation by the previously disadvantaged individuals in the mainstream of the economy

ii. What are the new provincial strategies to further push back the frontiers of poverty?

RESPONSE:

Over the medium term we will continue to implement the above policies and programmes. New policies, plans and programmes that will be implemented during the 2014-19 Medium term include:

  • The implementation of Mpumalanga Vision 2030, which is an implementation framework for the National Development Plan
  • A targeted Industrial Development Plan to drive the industrialization of the Province
  • Focusing on the implementation of the Agriculture Action Plan to grow the sector and enhance agricultural production
  • Development and Implementation of SMME and Cooperatives strategies
  • Focusing on the revitalization of township and rural economies
  • A focused implementation of the Mpumalanga Tourism Growth Strategy 

8. *Hon RJ Sithole to ask the Hon. Premier

With regards to the State of the Province Address 2015, can the Premier indicate the following:

i. Can the Premier briefly elaborate if there is any difference between the Moloto Rail Corridor and the Moloto Road?

RESPONSE:

Moloto Development Corridor is the corridor that links Gauteng (Tshwane), Mpumalanga (Thembisile Hani and Dr. JS Moroka Municipalities) and Limpopo Province (Sekhukhune District Municipality). The road R573 (Moloto road) and the planned Moloto rail are part of Moloto corridor.

ii. Can the Premier provide a detailed progress report on the Moloto Rail Corridor and Moloto road? 

RESPONSE:

The Nkangala District Municipality undertook a pre-feasibility study to determine the viability of constructing a rail link to the City of Tshwane. In September 2005, the then Provincial Department of Roads and Transport presented the results of this study to the Minister of Transport who directed that a detailed feasibility study on the proposed Moloto Rail Development Corridor Initiative be conducted. In January 2006, the Mpumalanga Provincial Government tabled the Moloto Rail Corridor Development Initiative at Cabinet Lekgotla. Cabinet Lekgotla recommended that the project be registered as part of AsgiSA.

The results of the Feasibility Study were submitted to Cabinet in January 2008. Cabinet approved the findings of the Feasibility Study and the implementation programme that was proposed.

The National Department of Transport (DoT) made a submission to Treasury for the operational funding required for the establishment of a Project Management Office and the capital funding required for the implementation phases of the project.

The application was rejected by Treasury on the basis that the Feasibility Study did not extensively interrogate all the possible options, in particular other road-based solutions.

In 2011 Cabinet directed that the Minister of Transport should consider the project for implementation. The Department of Transport (DoT) then registered the project with National Treasury as a PPP project.

In October 2012 the Department of Transport appointed Transactional Advisors to review the 2008 feasibility study.

The execution of the project consists of ten phases, namely:
  1. Project Inception: already concluded.
  2. Needs analysis: already concluded
  3. Options Analysis, consisting of Technical options, Service Delivery options and Evaluation of Transportation Solutions: already concluded
  4. Options Analysis Report: already concluded
  5. Project Legal, Environmental and Economic Due Diligence: in progress
  6. Build the Business Case: in progress
  7. Present the Business Case: in progress
  8. Economic Impact Study: in progress
  9. Prepare the Procurement Plan: in progress
  10. Final Submission for Treasury Approval 1 (TA1) in line with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Guidelines and Treasury Regulation 16 (The project has been registered with Treasury as a PPP project.)

Progress made – Option Analysis submitted

The Transactional Advisors investigated the following solution options which are contained in an Options Analysis report.

-Solution Option 1: Maintain the Status Quo

-Solution Option 2: Road Based Improved Bus Way

-Solution Option 3: Guided (Exclusive) Bus Way

-Solution Option 4: Rapid Rail

The rapid rail solution was approved by the Political Oversight Committee as a preferred option. 

Improvement of the R573 Road

The Political Oversight Committee, chaired by the Minister of Transport, approved the rapid rail as recommended by the Steering Committee. The Committee also noted that since the rail is a long term project, other short term solutions should be looked at in the interim. These short term measures (quick wins) includes, inter alia, the improvement of road R573 (Moloto Road) by the South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL).

A resolution was then taken that the provinces, where Moloto road traverses Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga should de-proclaim portions of road R573 in their respective jurisdictions so that they are proclaimed as part of the national road network. This would enable the SANRAL to implement safety and capacity improvements on this road.

iii. Can the Premier give confirmation in terms of whether the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport have prioritized the Moloto Road or if they have prioritized the Moloto Rail Corridor?

RESPONSE:

The project receives priority from National, Provincial and the local sphere of government. The project consists of the following committees (in which Public Works, Roads and Transport participate) which oversee Moloto Corridor Development:

  • Political Oversight Committee chaired by the Minister of Transport. The members of this committee are Ministers of Environmental Affairs, Trade & Industry as well as Water and Sanitation, MEC’s for transport in the three Provinces, the Executive Mayors of the three district municipalities.
  • The Steering committee chaired by the Director General of Transport. The members are the Director-General’s of Environmental Affairs, Trade & Industry as well as Water and Sanitation, HOD’s of the three Provinces, municipal managers of the three district municipalities.
  • The Technical Committee comprises of the technical officials from the three spheres of government and the service provider appointed by the National Department of Transport.

SANRAL has been mandated to implement safety and capacity improvement on this road at the cost of R1, 1 billion.

The Province is also addressing the legislative gap through the introduction of the Roads and Transport Infrastructure Bill that will regulate the road and rail infrastructure. The Mpumalanga Roads and Transport Infrastructure Act will create an enabling environment for the implementation of the Moloto Rail Corridor project.

iv. During the Tabling of the 2015/16 Budget Speech, Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene, allocated R1.1 billion for the upgrade of the Moloto Road to improve its safety and mobility, there was no mention of the Moloto Rail Corridor, can the Premier tell us whether the actual Moloto Rail Corridor that the people of Thembisile Hani and Dr JS Moroka municipality were promised and have been waiting for, for over a decade will materialize or not materialize? If it will materialize in the near future, by when?

RESPONSE:

The Minister of Transport Hon. Dipuo Peters confirmed the commitment of government to introduce rapid rail option along the corridor in her 2014 Budget Speech.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has been instructed to finalise the treasury approval number one application and to setup the rail project implementation. It must be noted, however, that it will take some time before construction commences as there is still some pre-construction work that has to be done which are governed by the PPP model. It is anticipated that the rail project will take approximately seven years.

ENDS
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