|
Tens of thousands of people have landed work through the construction of the Gautrain, and hundreds of companies have benefited through outsourcing contracts.
NEARLY 75 000 jobs have been created through the Gautrain, and some 600 black economic empowerment (BEE) companies and small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have benefited from the construction of the rapid rail link.
The Gautrain project's latest socio-economic development (SED) achievements were announced last week, indicating that 11 700 direct jobs and 63 200 indirect jobs have been created.
"Gautrain has always maintained that it is more than just a transport project," said Qedani Mahlangu, the MEC for local government.
"[It] has presented Gauteng with an opportunity to empower its citizens and particularly to expand the economic activity of the province. This is a clear indication of our commitment to grow the province's economy by 8 percent in 2014."
Some 260 BEE companies have benefited to the tune of R1,9-billion, with 90 new BEE companies getting R800-million in contracts and R600-million going to 230 SMMEs.
BEE companies that have benefited include Inkonjane Civils, Africa Civils and Kgwedihlaba Reinforcing. New BEEs include Memetse Contractors, Induna Tippers and AfriSam. SMMEs that have benefited from the Gautrain include Prompt Construction, Ukubona 2000 and Zenzeleni.
Training
Most of the workers have been given training of some kind - 10 400 courses have been attended by unskilled and semi-skilled staff, while management has attended 1 250 courses.
Courses for unskilled workers range from basic fire fighting and underground operators to excavator operators. Semi-skilled training includes concrete handling, front-end loader drivers, and basic handtool training.
One of the many to have benefited is Meckson Manganye, formerly a security guard at a townhouse complex. He joined the Gautrain project and in just under two years he has bought his own car as well as a plot in Soshanguve.
He attended a concrete construction course and was promoted to the position of works inspector, doing the same spot check reports and daily diaries as those completed by experienced and qualified site engineers. Manganye is also studying for a supervision of building construction diploma.
Direct jobs that have been created include jobs in earthworks, electrical works, piling and structural steel work. Indirect jobs refer to those created at the supplier level. Jobs created during construction will end once the project is complete, but it is estimated that 2 700 jobs will be created during the operating and maintenance phase.
Objectives
Socio-economic development objectives for the project were developed before the contract was signed with Bombela, the company responsible for constructing and running the link for the first 15 years.
"Gautrain project partners adhere to a comprehensive and stringent monitoring regime to ensure compliance with SED objectives through all the phases of the project," said Barbara Jensen, the communications and marketing executive for the Gautrain.
Gauteng Province and Bombela jointly appointed an independent socio-economic monitor, which is "a first for any major contract in this country and congruent with global best practice". The monitor verifies Bombela's monthly achievements against socio-economic development obligations.
"Bombela has made extensive efforts to ensure that it substantially exceeded its SED obligations in each quarter within each of the respective SED elements," explained Jensen. "As a result of this commitment, the total anticipated SED benefits of the project to date have been significantly exceeded."
The full 80km rapid rail route will be completed by the end of March 2011.
Related stories:
|
