Transport is not simply about roads and vehicles – it is the lifeblood of our economy; it connects our communities and is the key to unlocking opportunities for all our people. KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Transport (DoT) budget must therefore focus on efficiency, accountability, safety, and economic development.
KZN’s transport infrastructure, once a source of pride, is today plagued by allegations of mismanagement, neglect, and inefficiency. Our roads are riddled with potholes, bridges are damaged, and public transport services are unreliable and unsafe. In short, KZN’s DoT has failed in its mandate to provide a safe and efficient transport system for the people of this province.
Despite KZN’s roads being in a state of disrepair, particularly since the April 2022 floods, the DoT has surrendered R200m in unspent funds. This is not just a financial blunder it is a failure to protect the lives of our citizens.
It has also been the biggest contributor to irregular expenditure within provincial government over the past five years. Non-compliance with Treasury regulations, poor contract management and a lack of consequence management have become endemic. The Auditor-General (AG) has identified significant control deficiencies, yet no meaningful action has been taken to address them.
Another glaring failure is the Learner Transport Programme (LTP). In the 2023/24 financial year, the budget for this programme was slashed by R193 million – from R459m to R266m – leaving more than 157 000 learners without access to safe and reliable transport to schools. The DA has consistently called for increased funding to address this crisis, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
The DoT is far removed from the realities on the ground when it comes to the LTP and is out of line with the objectives of the Department of Education. The DA firmly believes that this programme must be sent back to Education for roll-out. This will address key issues around distances travelled by learners, including policy concerns around qualifying criteria. Transparent tender processes must also be introduced to ensure that only capable service providers are contracted. Rural and underserved areas must also be prioritised to ensure that every child gets to school safely and on time
KZN’s taxi industry, while providing essential services, has also become a law unto itself with violence, intimidation and disregard for regulations now the norm. Yet, the DoT has failed to enforce the law, allowing this sector to operate with impunity. The DA again calls for immediate intervention to restore order and ensure that all transport operators adhere to the law. Public transport services, including buses and trains, are also rapidly deteriorating. Subsidies have not kept pace with inflation, leading to reduced services and increased fares. The DoT’s failure to invest in and maintain these services have left many communities without viable transport options, further entrenching poverty and inequality.
The DA has consistently spoken out over the DoT’s lack of proactive measures to prevent KZN’s extremely high accident rate, which often bring traffic to a standstill for hours. Hold-ups are also amplified by delays in Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement and emergency services getting to the scene.
The consequences of hours of standstill traffic on the economy and health are far-reaching and complex. Traffic congestion leads to wasted time, increased costs, and disruptions to supply chains and business operations.
One cannot talk about supply chain without mentioning the looting of trucks that often accompanies accidents on KZN’s major routes. This is a crime that jeopardises the safety of commuters and which has escalated dramatically in recent months. The time has come for SAPS and other security forces to intensify their efforts including more visible policing on major transport routes, improved coordination between SAPS and the private security sector and stricter penalties for those caught in the act of looting trucks.
As part of KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA envisions a province where transport is safe, efficient, and accessible to all. To achieve this, the following must be urgently implemented:
• Increased investment in road maintenance and infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable roads, with every rand budgeted for road repair and maintenance properly spent
• The implementation of performance-based contracts for roadworks with strict deadlines and penalties for delays and the introduction of a real-time pothole and road condition tracking app for public use and accountability
• A DoT financial dashboard to publicly track spending, project progress, and service delivery metrics.
• Publicly available performance reviews to ensure high performance levels, with links to budgets outcomes, not just intentions
• Prioritisation of road infrastructure within in rural and underdeveloped areas to unlock economic activity
• Promotion of job creation through road maintenance projects and infrastructure rollouts
• Improved logistics for businesses by upgrading freight corridors and reducing transport delays.
• Enforced regulations within the taxi industry to restore order and ensure safety. An independent, properly resourced regulatory authority must also be established to partner with SAPS and metro police and crack down on rogue taxi associations and violence. Taxi ranks must also be modernised and smart cards introduced for passengers
• Investment in and maintenance of public transport services to provide affordable and reliable options for all citizens. Modernisation and subsidisation of efficient bus services, particularly in townships and rural areas and the piloting of integrated public transport systems that are safe, accessible and climate conscious and;
• Implementation of stringent financial controls to eliminate wasteful expenditure and ensure accountability. This must include lifestyle audits for senior officials and staff held accountable for mismanagement, the implementation of zero-based budgeting with every rand spent justified annually and the establishment of open tender systems where the public can monitor procurement processes in real time.
The DA has long advocated for an integrated solution to KZN’s transport challenges. Regrettably, until KZN’s fundamental challenges are addressed, investing in rail is unlikely to provide a stable or profitable return for investors. Reforms in governance, security, and infrastructure are all necessary before rail investment becomes viable.
The 2025 DoT budget presents an opportunity to correct KZN’s course and rebuild our transport infrastructure. As part of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) the DA is committed to holding the DoT accountable and ensuring that the people of our province receive the services they deserve.