By Nangamso Mabindla
26 July 2007

TRANSPORT infrastructure planning has become a priority in Eastern Cape province, following the launch of Transmec in East London on Tuesday, 24 July.

The launch was attended by councillors from the province's municipalities, provincial government officials and representatives of the business community.

The MEC for safety, liaison, roads and transport, Thobile Mhlahlo, said that Transmec was a political structure that would give direction to transport infrastructure planning throughout the province. "I will be chairing the structure and we will be working together with councillors, provincial and municipal officials."

Transmec's major role was to enhance communication between provincial and local government and communities regarding transport matters.

"We have a backlog of infrastructure development in the province, and in order to deal with that we need to have co-operation between the two spheres of government. This is all part of intergovernmental relations," Mhlahlo said.

Even though municipalities were the closest tier of government to the people and provided services, some were still under-resourced and lacked capacity when it came to planning road infrastructure.

"This new structure will ensure that we share resources and information. The provincial government has the capacity but in the past we kept it to ourselves; now with Transmec we will be able to share this with municipalities."

Transport infrastructure was also a priority in the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP). "The PGDP highlights the importance of transport structure when it comes to economic growth. We need to invest in infrastructure. But for that to succeed we need to work closely with municipalities."

Turning his attention to how timely the launch of the structure was, Mhlahlo said that there was a number of upcoming projects in the province, such as improving the highway linking East London and Port Elizabeth, the R72; the Fifa 2010 World Cup™; upgrading the Bhisho airport; the taxi recapitalisation project; and opening an aviation school at Bhisho Airport.

"Transport infrastructure is important to economic growth, because if we can improve the highway between [Nelson Mandela] Metro and Buffalo City we will have smooth transporting of automotive goods between the two cities. That will improve the economy in the two cities," Mhlahlo added.

With the Metro hosting football games during the upcoming World Cup, and East London a base camp, there was a need to improve the transport infrastructure for smooth access between the two cities during the tournament.

Municipalities like Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metro were advanced when it came to public transport plans, and Mhlahlo said that with Transmec operational in the province, these cities could share information with other municipalities.

Talking about the look of the structure, Mhlahlo said it would consist of himself, councillors from the district and local municipalities, transport agencies like Transnet, provincial officials and other important stakeholders.

Transmec's first meeting will be at the end of September.