OVER 2 300 LEARNERS ALREADY TRAINED

Gautrain has already exceeded its learnership targets. The project provides several construction related learnerships in its commitment to skills development and capacity building. Learnerships equip candidates with practical on-the-job-training and qualifactions 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.

Achiements include:

• 2 357 individuals have received training to date (January 2008 to 31 December 2008).
• 9 705 training interventions/assessments have taken place to date (January 2008 to 31 December 2008).
• 352 people have taken Learning Ability Battery Assessments
• 3 apprentices started their training (electrical) at the NECSA training centre at Pellindaba (June 2008 – December 2008)

To date, training has been concentrated in the civil engineering sector. The track laying, electrical, mechanical, operation and maintenance will be receiving increased attention in future. The first three apprentices (electrical) have completed their theoretical training at  the NECSA training school at Pellindaba. They now have to complete their practical training.

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 2 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).