By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula says just over R2 billion has been allocated towards the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).
Mbalula delivered his budget during Parliament’s mini plenary vote meeting on Wednesday, saying the Department of Transport’s planned expenditure will increase at an average annual rate of 7.7% over the medium term
“This means an increase from R69.1 billion in 2022/2023 to R81.6 billion in 2024/2025,” he said.
The minister said R76.4 billion has been set aside for South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL), adding that R45.3 billion of the total allocated amount will go towards upgrading the national non‐toll roads network.
Sanral is expected to receive an additional R9.9 billion for maintaining the non-toll road network for the 2022/2023 fiscal year, as announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during his budget speech in February.
While R2.8 billion has been budgeted for Moloto Road (R573), the department, Mbalula said, has allocated R3.7 billion for the N2 Wild Coast project.
He also provided an update on e-tolls, saying R2.1 billion has been allocated to fund reduced tariffs for the GFIP.
“We have been working closely with the minister of Finance to finalise outstanding matters that will enable the final determination by Cabinet on the funding of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, better known as e-tolls.
“We are alive to the adverse impact the delay in making the final decision on e-tolls has on the SANRAL [South African National Roads Agency] balance sheet and its ability to raise capital for its catalytic projects.
“This is a matter Cabinet has on its radar and a pronouncement will be made once the final decision has been taken,” he said.
Mbalula said, meanwhile, that efforts to reduce carnage on our roads by 25 percent in 2024 remain firmly on track.
“We have been making steady progress with the reduction of fatalities by 20.27 percent in 2019/20, 19.73 percent in 2020/21 and 20.02 percent in the first three quarters of the 2021/22 financial year. Although the reduction is largely attributed to reduced traffic volumes due to Covid-19 restrictions, the increased visibility of our officers on the roads played a significant part,” said the Minister.