The company is owned by Alstom, which has a 70% shareholding, and uBumbano Rail, which has a 30% stake.[3] Gibela is a black economic empowerment consortium. In addition to building vehicles for South African operators, Gibela also plans to compete for other Africanrail contracts.[4]
Under the terms of the contract, Gibela would construct the units over a ten-year period, as well as provide parts and technical support after delivery.[6] While the first twenty EMUs, dubbed the X'Trapolis Mega, were built by Alstom in Brazil, Gibela began construction of a new R1 billion assembly facility in Dunnottar, in the Gauteng province of South Africa in March 2016 to construct the remaining 580 trainsets.[4]
In March 2022, Gibela reported that for the period January 2014 through March 2020, the company's work contributed 1.25% to Gauteng's economy. It also stated that for financial years 2019 through 2022, it had spent R34.46 million on local suppliers, which contributed to the local economy.[7]
In July 2022, PRASA celebrated the delivery of the 100th trainset produced by Gibela, as part of the South African national rail modernization program. R124 billion has been budgeted for the renewal project, which will take place over a 20 year period. At the time of the announcement, the new Mega trains were active on transit routes in the City of Cape Town and City of Tshwane metropolitan municipalities.[8]
The factory uses 7-axis welding robots, which are a first of their kind in the global rail industry. It uses a LEAN manufacturing process, and 350 million rand's worth of specialized equipment, comprising 10,000 individual parts and 250 interlinked industrial activities. The factory's production rate of 2 cars per day (1.5 trains per week and 62 trains per year) is the fastest rail production rate for a factory in the entire world.[9]
The Gibela factory is approximately 60,000 square metres (650,000sqft) in size, and employs around 1,500 people at full production.[10][4] It features a 1.2 kilometer test track for testing acceleration, braking, and simulated passenger loads.[9]
Gibela began occupying the facility in early January 2018, and its construction was scheduled to be completed in March of the same year.[11]
The company sources from 85 South African suppliers, and as of 2020, 56% of its trains' value had been spent locally. In the same year, almost half (413) of the plant's 921 employees were black females, with 26% of senior management, 49% of middle management, and 49% of junior management being black women.[9]
Products
X'Trapolis Mega: a 6-carriage, 1,200 passenger modular, electric train, with a 1.067 meter gauge and a maximum speed of 120 kph. To support Gibela sustainability efforts, the train uses components that are 90% recyclable, and energy-saving features like a structure built from lightweight stainless steel sourced in South Africa. The trains feature spacious interiors, large windows, air conditioning, and CCTV security cameras, and WiFi access.[2][12]
Corporate social responsibility
In 2022, Gibela launched a sponsored training program for unemployed South Africans in KwaThema, Tsakane, Duduza, and other areas in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Training in 13 different skill sets was offered, across business and technical curricula. Gibela stated that the goal of the program was to address unemployment by equipping people within the communities surrounding its factory with skills that will enable them to develop their own businesses.[13]
As part of a commitment to skills acquisition and transfer, Gibela runs a 3-year apprenticeship program, which has taken on around 300 apprentices to train them as skilled artisans. Furthermore, Gibela runs a community skills development programme that trains an average of 650 people a year. Participants can gain technical and non-technical skills across 6 different programs.[7]
The company also runs a bursary program for university, university of technology, and technical and vocational college (TVET) students, as well as an internship program. Since inception, the program has funded over 1,100 students.[7] In September 2020, Gibela had spent a cumulative R69 million on bursaries.[9]
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