A PROJECT to refurbish the railway line between East London and the former Transkei is providing a “long-term foundation to sustainable development in the Eastern Cape,” says public enterprises minister Jeff Radebe. Speaking during a function at the Kei Bridge to mark the start of the R40-million third phase of the project, Radebe said the Province's Growth and Development framework provided “six strategic objectives designed to enhance the quality of life of our people”. These are the systematic eradication of poverty through a holistic, integrated and multi-dimensional approach to pro-poor programming; agrarian transformation and strengthening of household food security; the consolidation, development and diversification of the manufacturing base and tourism potential of the province; the provision of infrastructure; human resource development; and public sector and institutional transformation. “The integration of the Kei Rail project with development initiatives is underscored through its direct links to the use of local, community based labour for the provision of critical maintenance and building aspects of the programme, through projects in the forestry, agriculture, wool and red meat, minerals exploitation, and tourism sectors, and the relationship it will have with the various road upgrade and links that have already been identified, and of course to the East London IDZ that includes important improvements to the East London harbour, and the SDI (Spatial Development Initiative),” said Radebe.