Pretoria – A 72-hectare train manufacturing plant, which will be built in the City of Ekurhuleni, is expected to create more than 2 000 job opportunities.
The plant which will be built in Dunnottar in Nigel, is an initiative by Prasa-Gibela in partnership with the National Department of Transport and the City of Ekurhuleni.
Ekurhuleni Mayor Mondli Gungubele said at the sod turning ceremony that the establishment of the plant is a great milestone for the city.
“Zoning such a big space of land for such an initiative gives one a sense of relief knowing that it is for the benefit of our people. The job opportunity projections and the economic boost that will be brought about by the existence of this plant in our city speaks volumes,” Mayor Gungubele said.
The city said the plant, which is valued at approximately R1 billion, will enable the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to have new trains manufactured and maintained locally.
Several kilometres of rail network and a 1.2km test track is also included in the plant design. Approximately 30 hectares have been reserved for a supplier park.
This will house all the suppliers to the main manufacturing plant, which are made up of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) specialising in various areas of rail-related manufacturing.
Within the next 10 years, the supplier park will become a centre of excellence for train manufacturing. – SAnews.gov.za
