In an effort to improve the country’s rail network, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula met with officials at the R1bn Gibela Rail Consortium Dunnottar factory in Ekurhuleni on Monday to discuss the throughput of production at the plant.
Accompanied by Bongisizwe Mpondo, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) administrator, Mbalula told the plant’s 918 staff members that the facility would play a critical role in fixing the country’s rail issues.
“One of the priorities outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his recent State of the Nation Address is to fix the commuter rail system, which the president acknowledged is vital to the economy. This plant is an important component towards achieving that priority,” said Mbalula.
The minister said that officials at the plant would need to increase operational efficiencies if they were to turn around the country’s rail fortunes. – Bjorn Vorster
