MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL investments in the Eastern Cape have been announced by public enterprises minister Jeff Radebe. Speaking in parliament during his department’s budget vote, Radebe said investments included R25 million for the deepening of East London harbour and R3,2-billion for the Port of Ngqura, as well as R500 million to link the Coega Industrial Development Zone with the existing Port Elizabeth network. The province will also benefit from projects by parastatal rail operator Spoornet. These plans include a R42 billion investment in rolling stock, as well as refurbishment and fixed infrastructure upgrades between 2002 and 2018. “Spoornet seeks to employ more efficient diesel locos in rural areas to revitalise the branch line network and boost economic development in rural areas. The carrying capacity of rail will improve, the shift from road to rail of heavy freight will accelerate, and the real pricing of rail services will drop,” says Radebe. “Furthermore, 90 per cent of the wagon renewal budget, or R9 billion, and more than 50 per cent, or about R10 billion, of the locomotive budget will be spent in South Africa. Overseas suppliers will transfer skills over the period and will embed their technology in Spoornet and develop local support networks,” he added.