GAUTRAIN TRAINING ACHIEVEMENTS FOR OCTOBER

Gautrain provides several construction related learnerships in its commitment to skills development and capacity building. Learnerships equip candidates with practical on-the-job-training and qualifications recognised by the National Qualifications Authority.

Graduates receive certificates from the Skills Education Training Authorities and their fees are sponsored by the National Skills Fund (NSF). After the completion of their learnerships they are either employed by Gautrain or any other project in need of skilled graduates.

Achievements include:

• 2357 individuals have received training to date (January 2008 to 31st October 2008.
• 9417 training interventions/assessments have taken place to date (January 2008 to 31st October 2008).
• 352 people have taken the Learning Ability Battery Assessment
• 3 apprentices started their training (electrical) at the NECSA training centre at Pellindaba by the end of June 2008

To date, training has been concentrated in the construction sector. The track laying, electrical, mechanical, operation and maintenance will be receiving increased attention in future.

To qualify for training, all candidates are required to write the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) recognised Learning Ability Battery Assessments. Only the top 15% are invited to be trained as operators in fields such as Frontend Loader, Excavator, Bobcat, Articulated Dump Truck, Tractor Loader Backhoe and Mobile Crane.

An amount of about R23 million from the National Skills Fund was allocated to the Gautrain Project for training. This training initiative is over and above the training undertaken by the Bombela Consortium as part of their commitments under the Concession Agreement.

In June/July 2006, applications were requested for grant funding from the National Skills Fund (DoL) for major infrastructure projects in the nine provinces. The Gautrain Project  is one of the four Gauteng projects submitted to the NSF via the Gauteng Department of Education (through the Office of the Premier). Approval of the suite of Gauteng projects was received on the 2nd December 2006. The four being the Gautrain Rapid Rail Project, the Call Centre Project (City of Johannesburg), the Automotive Industrial Cluster and Computer Training (GDE).