Over the next financial year, the Department of Transport says it will focus on developing the road, rail, maritime and aviation infrastructure networks to help unlock the full potential of the economy.

Addressing the Select Committee on Economic and Business Development in Parliament, Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said that integrating all forms of transport was key to economic growth, SANews.gov.za reported.

“We believe that we are part of the economic development infrastructure departments and we believe that our road infrastructure networks have the potential to unlock the economic potential [of the country] in the rural areas in particular, but in South Africa generally,” she said.

Chikunga added that the National Transport Master Plan, which the department tabled at the end of the second quarter 2013/14, has been referred to the Inter-Ministerial Committee for consultations with the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) by Cabinet.

The master plan seeks to integrate different modes of transport, with the aim of bolstering economic activity and eventually growth. The Department of Transport will create a space for the private sector to participate and be part of the decisions taken by the department going forward.

 

Need for funding models

Chikunga said that, with the department’s budget not able to fund road infrastructure development, government needs to come up with funding models. “We have to find a way and actually begin to discuss the issue of funding models for infrastructure development, particularly road infrastructure development.”

Chikunga argued that all stakeholders need to participate in discussions around funding models in order to produce the most effective funding model for infrastructure development.