Train factory set to boost manufacturing
The newly launched train manufacturing factory at Dunnotor Park in Nigel has been hailed as
key to boosting the country’s economy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the multi-billion rand factory on Thursday.
The 72-hectare site in Ekurhuleni has been constructed at an estimated cost of R1 billion and it will manufacture, assemble, test, commission and deliver 580 new commuter trains.
Two of those trains will be delivered by December 2018, while nine more trains will be launched in March 2019.
“This factory is not only about building trains but it also about advancing industrialising of our economy. Over the past few years, manufacturing and industrialization of our economy has been going down. We haven’t had a lot of manufacturing activity and the industrilisation capability of our country has been going down. And today what we see here at this Gibela factory is a major boost to our manufacturing capacity as a country, it is a major boost to our industrialization programme as a country,” said Ramaphosa.
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South Africa is the only country in the African Union (AU) to manufacture trains.
“Even the AU, a continent that is composed of 54 countries, looks to South Africa as the anchor of manufacturing on the whole continent, it looks to South Africa to ignite the industrialisation in of our continent. It is for this reason that the AU has chosen us as SA as the people who are going to drive the manufacturing of trains in the whole continent,” Ramaphosa added.
The launch of the factory comes on the eve of the investment conference that is due to take place in Sandton on Friday.
Over 1000 delegates, comprising of top global CEOs and companies, are expected to attend.
Ramaphosa also confirmed that investors would be visiting the factory.