Web address http://thulamela.gov.za Page 8 THULAMELA APRIL - JUNE 2011

CONSTRUCTION OF R317 MILLION THOHOYANDOU INTERMODAL TRANSPORT FACILITY ABOUT TO START

Planned to commence in June 2011 and to be completed in November 2013, the groundbreaking construction of the R317 million worth Thohoyandou Intermodal Transport Facility that is being compared to the renowned Park Station is intended to provide user-friendly and accessible transport between buses, minibus-taxis and metered taxis within one location.

Unveiling the project at Thohoyandou Town Hall on Thursday, 05 May 2011, MEC of Roads and Transport, Pinkie Kekana, said that just like at the popular Johannesburg station, the intermodal approach supported existing infrastructure, existing business and pedestrian circulation. “It further integrates transport and a business node, links civic functions, promotes public participation and is cost effective. It provides for an integrated system which includes and supports current public transport facilities,” said Kekana. Highlighting the facility's key features, Kekana said: “This being an intermodal facility for taxis and buses, emphasis has been placed on ensuring that our people from around Thohoyandu can also benefit from this facility. The facility provides for the necessary job creation opportunities.

Kekana added: “These opportunities are manifested through the construction stage and the trader facilities and with some 5 500 m2 of commercial / retail space. This will create 800 temporary positions during construction and at least 400 permanent jobs through commercial trading ventures and the operations and maintenance of the bus and taxi ranks. For this facility we have prescribed a strict minimum of 30 % local participation in the construction. This will also mean that local contractors and labourers will play a meaningful role in the construction phase”.

According to Kekana, an added benefit to the local authority was that additional revenue of rates and taxes from these commercial facilities would go towards the cost of running and maintaining the bus/taxi rank. A culmination of two years of research and planning, Kekana said the intermodal facility bore testimony that the ANC-led government was correcting the apartheid regime's policies of segregated development by transforming the public transport system to enable all South Africans to enjoy greater access to economic and employment opportunities as well as social recreation.

Regarding the objectives of the new facility, Kekana said: “It is important to outline the objectives of this facility so that when complete, it can serve its intended objectives including promoting the use of public transport; improving operational efficiency; reducing congestion; using space efficiently; providing safety and comfort; promoting entrepreneurship; providing adequate facilities and improving accessibility”.

In recent years, an increasing emphasis has been placed on designing facilities that make transfers easier and seamless, said Kekana. “These are intended to help passengers move from one mode of transport to another with ease. We could not be left wanting, and thus came up with this facility which once completed will render services including local taxi operations; long distance taxi operations; local buses operations; long distance bus operations and metered taxis,” she added.

Regarding local economic development, Kekana said: “Business and job creation are an integral part of the design of this facility and is a model we must display going forward. The ANC-led government has always emphasised the importance of uplifting our people's social economic being by ensuring that everything we do addresses the issues of poverty alleviation”. She added: “While we are celebrating the launch of this grand facility,

tenders are being called for the construction of the taxi rank i n c l u d i n g t h e f i r s t p h a s e o f commercial development. This process will also assist in poverty alleviation as our people will be employed during the development and construction phase. The facility being developed has been designed taking into account our cultural and historical background. It is not just a concrete structure, but something we can identify with. Upon conclusion, this area will have its own landmark that is synonymous with cultural n a t u re o f V h ave n d a p e o p l e ”. According to Kekana, the design of the facility also aims to provide comfort and dignity to the beneficiaries of the f a c i l i t y . “ O v e r 2 7 0 0 0 commuters/passengers will use this new facility in a day. The facility also provides offices that can be utilised by local and provincial government and thus provide convenience and improve the environment in which government services are provided.

“The National Household Travel Survey (2005) revealed that nearly two thirds of households in South Africa do not have access to public transport. Therefore, it is my pleasure to announce and unveil this transport facility that is a treasure not only to Thohoyandou, but also the whole Limpopo Province,” she added.

“It is a project that we can all be proud of as users and beneficiaries of this facility,” she said. Kekana called upon the community to take care of this project and jealously guard against its misuse. “This is your project we hope that , once completed, i t wil l a c c o m p l i s h i t s p u r p o s e o f transforming the transport landscape of our province for the better,” she concluded.

NANDONI DAM'S FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

to fix weak water pipes so that more communities can have access to clean water. Addressing thousands of residents gathered at the Dumasi sports ground during the celebration of Water Week on Tuesday, 22 March 2011, Limpopo Province MEC for Housing and Local Government, Soviet Lekganyane said: “The department of Water Affairs has put aside R740 million in this financial year which is going to replace weak water pipes and I think this programme will alleviate challenges that people around Nandoni Dam are facing.

He added: “Secondly the department has put aside R12 million which is going to be used to erect water pipes at Mukula and we hope that this project and

many others will provide basic needs to our communities and help to uplift socio-economic circumstances of our people”. Lekganyane continued: “It has been eluded here that we are gathered because of water. Every year internationally and nationally in the months of March we celebrate water and human rights. Water is a central aspect in life and right to life is also one of the important rights. We can not talk about a right to life and sideline water”. Lekganyane added: “We want people to understand how the right to life interconnect with other rights .The primary aim of our campaign is to provide awareness to South Africans. You would notice that where ever we stay the first aspect of development is water because with water we are able to dignify the life of our people, to ensure cleanliness”. Among four basic needs water become engine for success, said Lekganyane, adding that if there was no water, just erecting pipes was meaningless. He said: “We need water for sanitation. People don't need quality water as without it our cleanness will be frustrated. The quality of the human being will be compromised. People look gorgeous and healthier because they use water”.

According to Lekganyane the government was planning to build cities in Lephalale, Makhado, Burgersfort, Musina, Thohoyandou, Elim, Vuwani and and other key settlements. “So without water all these plans are nothing .If people do not conserve water they will suffer tomorrow. The life which we are living today, we are not living for ourselves. We are living for the future and that is why we are raising the awareness of preserving water. As Vhembe District is the source of water for other districts, the government we are spending lots of money in to transporting the water to far flung areas like Giyani. Each and every high school, primary school, traditional authority, hospital, clinic must have a tank and each and every home must have a container to save water”. In his address, Thovhela Gole Mphaphuli

said, “What is happening today pleases the citizens because they want leaders who come before them so that they will be able to know who are they are voting for. Everybody who is here knows the importance of water. Here at Ha-Mphaphuli we are pleased because water is no longer far from us when we talk about water there are some challenges. People are always asking when they are going to have access to water and people who have been displaced from where they were staying are worried because they did not get enough money for the damages. Those people even took their grievances to the public protector”.

He continued: “Another challenge we are facing is security. People are requesting a fence around the dam and a controlled entrance because some of them are drowning. I'm disappointed because there are some people who are still using fishing nets, even the government does not allow it. Every one who wants to fish must be registered. Those who catch fish without proper licensing will face dire consequences. Even people who pollute the dam by nappies and other nasty stuff are going to be caught and face the mighty of the law. They seem to forget this dam contains the same water that they end up drinking. In future when you see contaminated water you will blame the government. Let's take care of the things which we get from the government so that tomorrow they won't hesitate to come to us when we need help”.

A s v a r i o u s communities that lack supply of sufficient water were still baffled by the sudden halting of the Nandoni Dam p r o j e c t , t h e Department of Water Affairs has allocated R740 million

MEC for Housing and Social Development Soviet Lekganyane

MEC for Roads and Transport Pinkie Kekana and Mayor Cllr Thivhulawi Makumbane.