Press Review, South Africa
27. March 2009
The Gautrain is expected to create about 148 000 direct, indirect and induced jobs over the next twenty years. Of this, a total of 93 000 direct, indirect and induced employment will be created during the design, construction and commissioning phases of the project, and yearly about 2700 direct, indirect and induced jobs will be created during the maintenance and operation of the project, reports Engineering News.
To do date the Gautrain rapid-rail link project has created 11,700 direct jobs, Gauteng MEC of local government Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu said last week
She was briefing the media on the Gautrain's effect on the province's economy. She said the project had also created 51,500 indirect and induced jobs.
"Gautrain has always maintained that it is more than just a transport project. Gautrain has presented Gauteng with an opportunity to empower its citizens, and particularly to expand the economic activity of the province," said Mahlangu.
This was a clear indication of the province's commitment to grow Gauteng's economy by eight percent by 2014, she added.
Companies that had benefited from the Gautrain project included 260 black empowerment entities, 90 new black empowerment entities and 230 small, medium and micro enterprises.
With regards to training, 10,400 courses had been attended by unskilled or semi-skilled staff and 1,250 courses had been attended by management, Mahlangu said.
Jack van der Merwe, CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency, told the briefing that socio-economic development had been part of the tender requirement which was won by Bombela. He added that the socio-economic development strategy was put in place even before the signing of the Concession Agreement with Bombela to ensure that all parties had an equal understanding of the socio-economic development requirements.
Van der Merwe said the Gautrain had to be seen as more than just a transport project. "The project must stimulate economic growth, investment, new development and job creation. "It is designed to restructure urban areas, educe travel distances, time and cost and improve city sustainability."
Source: SAGN/Sapa
Image: SAGoodNews