The Kei Rail project in the Eastern Cape is expected to be operational at the end of next year, almost a decade after construction, costing R105-million to date, started on the railway line.

Roads and Transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo said at a recent conference in Port Elizabeth that the project formed part of a larger scheme to upgrade the entire transport chain in Transkei.

As part of this scheme – the Medium Term Expenditure Framework – R2-billion would be invested over the next five to 10 years on upgrading various roads in the province, facilitation of the taxi re-capitalisation process and establishing a turnaround strategy for the under-used Bhisho and Mthatha airports.

Mhlahlo said the province’s transport infrastructure problems pre-dated 1994, and this had negative implications on the economic development of rural areas in the province.

“One of the critical elements of this situation was the lack of mobility of our people, particularly in the rural areas, due to the absence of transport infrastructure, inter-modal transport systems and public transport needs.

“Our road network continued to deteriorate because of heavy traffic, especially trucks, and government had to spend millions of rand on maintenance,” he said.

Subsequently the Kei Rail project was initiated in 1998 with the aim of refurbishing the 360km line between East London and Mthatha.

It has since been identified as a national pilot project that forms part of the national government’s “moving back to rail” policy, said Mhlahlo.

The policy aims to ease the heavy traffic flows from South Africa’s road network by attracting traffic to the country’s rail network.

“These developments have prompted the provincial government to declare the area between East London and Mthatha as the Kei development corridor with Kei Rail as its anchor project,” said Mhlahlo.

The department is planning an economic indaba for April with the key objective of mobilising integrated investor support programmes for this initiative.

The third phase of the Kei Rail project includes the refurbishment of the existing railway line and its stations from Butterworth, Mthatha, Dutywa to Sihota, with the construction of telecoms and train control systems and designing siding facilities at Zamukulungisa industrial node near Mthatha.

Also, provision was made for alternative housing sites at Zimbane Valley extension 75 for residents currently occupying the industrial node.
During the construction, 1 900 people were employed, of which 40 per cent were women and 15% youths and the disabled.

During the next phase of the project, early next year, companies will be invited to apply for the management of the rail network.

The rail project was primarily intended for freight, but provision will be made for passenger transport as well.

Mhlahlo said that care would be taken to include taxi and bus operators in the process to ensure that their efforts were co-ordinated