Broadband22.11.2012

R240 million for broadband in Western Cape

Helen Zille

The Western Cape will see improved road and broadband networks in the next three years, Economic development MEC Alan Winde said on Thursday.

In his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), he said there had been a “phenomenal” growth in the number of roads needing rehabilitation across the 32,212km network.

About R1.5 billion would be spent between 2013 and 2016 to reduce the road maintenance backlog.

Road users could expect to see upgrades to roads such as the Wingfield interchange near Century City and the regional freight links between Saldanha Bay and Vredenberg.

Winde gave further details on a planned low-cost broadband network, allowing more citizens to access the internet.

He said R240 million would be set aside over the medium term for broadband connectivity, which would increase the ease of business and access to government services.

Alan Winde

Alan Winde

“We intend to ensure public information and communications technology access within a two kilometre radius of every person living in our province by 2019, and universal broadband access by 2020.”

The MTBPS detailed other key infrastructure spends.

The education department would spend around R1.3 billion on building, replacing and expanding primary and secondary schools.

The health department would fork out around R2.9 billion on health facilities, including new community health centres, emergency centres and an upgrade to Valkenberg psychiatric hospital.

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