GAUTRAIN EXCEEDS JOB CREATION TARGETS DESPITE TOUGH ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

The latest job creation figures reveal that Gautrain has significantly exceeded its obligations towards targets set for job creation, local skills development and capacity building. In so doing, the project delivers on its promises to investment in the welfare of its people facing tough times in an economic downturn.

By the end of May 2009, the Bombela Concession Company has created or sustained an estimated 92 900 direct, indirect and induced jobs of which an estimated 18 200 are local direct jobs.

The Bombela Concession Company reported that their latest employment in April 2009 have significantly exceeded their socio economic development (SED) obligations towards the Gautrain project:

• 11 265 people were employed.
• 10 310 local people were employed, compared to an obligation of 5 046.
• 9 345 Historically Disadvantaged Individuals were employed, compared to an obligation of 3 851.
• 593 women were employed, compared to an obligation of 298.
• 52 people with disabilities were employed, compared to an obligation of 47.

The Independent Socio Economic Monitor verified that the following was achieved by the Bombela Concession Company and its sub-contractors by the end of April 2009:

• R2 710 million was spent on procurement from, and sub-contracting to BEEs
• R1 200 million was spent on procurement from, and sub-contracting to New BEEs.
• R810 million was spent on procurement from, and sub-contracting to SMMEs.
• R1 810 million was spent on procurement of South African materials, plant and equipment.
• R51 million was spent on Human Resource Development.

Although the socio-economic development objectives of the Gautrain project are predominantly focused on skills development, Bombela has already spent more than R51 million on human resource development; and:

• Unskilled staff and semi-skilled staff attended more than 11 390 courses to improve their skills levels.
• Top management, senior management, middle management and junior management of Bombela attended more than 1 470 training courses.
• Bombela has committed to a dedicated Women Training Programme, which was introduced in February 2007. By April 2009, 90 women participated in this programme.

Gautrain project partners adhere to a comprehensive and stringent monitoring regime to ensure compliance with SED objectives through all the phases of the project. The Gauteng Province and the Bombela Concession Company jointly appointed an Independent Socio-Economic Monitor (ISEM) that is a first for any major contract in this country and congruent with global best practice. The ISEM verifies Bombela’s monthly achievements of SED obligations.

Based on the results above, it is evident that Bombela has committed and embraced the SED objectives of the Gauteng Provincial Government. Bombela has made extensive efforts to ensure that it substantially exceeded its SED obligations in each quarter within each of the respective SED elements. As a result of this commitment, the total anticipated SED benefits of the project to date have been significantly exceeded.

It is evident that the Gautrain Project is still making a significant impact on socio-economic development in Gauteng and, for that matter, in South Africa.