Transnet’s infrastructure plans will create 200 000 jobs over six years

Transnet is looking to create at least 200 000 jobs over the next six years, the Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba said on Wednesday. Presenting his Budget Vote in Parliament, the minister said Transnet's total contribution to employment was expected to be increased by 54.8% - from 368 450 in 2011/12 to over 570 000 by 2018/19, according to BuaNews. The additional jobs would be created as Transnet embarks on a R300-million market demand strategy over the next seven years to roll out new infrastructure across the country. Gigaba said state-owned enterprises would also ratchet up training, pointing out that in the last financial year more than 15 000 learners were trained in various scarce and critical skills learning programmes. This year an extra 5 500 learners would be enrolled in training programmes. Added to this, Eskom had helped 6 130 learners acquire training as part of supplier contracts and the building of power stations, with some getting on-the-job experience abroad. He said Eskom's training budget had increased from R998 million in 2011 to R1.2 billion this financial year, while Transnet's training budget had risen from R670 million last year to R870 million this year.