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Transnet Freight Rail's first manganese export from the Port of East London was hailed on Tuesday as the dawn of the transformative era in the Eastern Cape.
Speaking at the event, Premier Oscar Mabuyane, said Transnet's investment of R9.1 billion in infrastructure development projects in the province would open doors for related industries and bolster local manufacturing.
He said the Eastern Cape was now positioned to support critical economic sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.
"As we speak there is progress in the implementation of the R9.1 billion Transnet infrastructure development projects in the Ports of Ngqurha, East London, and the Port of Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)".
"As a result of that massive investment, our provincial ports and rail infrastructure are being positioned to support critical provincial economic sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism".
In thanking Transnet for making this investment in the Eastern Cape, Mabuyane said "we expect more investments to revitalise our rail infrastructure, its maintenance, and its protection against vandalism".
The Eastern Cape Premier said the broader implications on ancillary industries, particularly in the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape, "make our nation a competitive force in international trade, especially in minerals".
"Our mineral resources, especially manganese, are not just commodities but ambassadors of our nation’s potential, strengthening the Rand and enhancing our position on the global economic stage".
