Collen Malatji

BTech (Mechanical Engineering), Unisa

Collen is a graduate mechanical engineer with six years of railway experience. Collen loves rail and says: "I have been in rail all my working life, I know it in and out. I also believe that learning never stops."

He also describes the Gibela project as "history on the making" – a huge step in creating a world-leading passenger rail service in the country. Collen is also excited about the prospect of building 580 of the trains in South Africa, from local components. He and his colleagues will, when they return home after the training programme, be transferring the cutting-edge skills they have acquired to their colleagues. Collen's initial responsibility will be as part of the team that will validate the first 20 trains from Alstom in Brazil – ensuring that they conform in all dynamic and static respects to Prasa's specifications.

"The Gibela project is history in the making, and our group of engineers is excited about making it happen" – Collen Malatji, mechanical engineer

Matodzi Mukhuba

BTech (Mechanical Engineering), Unisa

Matodzi has followed up his engineering degree with management studies, also through Unisa. Matodzi does not only have six year's practical, hands-on experience in managing, maintaining and trouble-shooting high-tech passenger trains, but he expresses an abiding gratitude to Transnet, one of his previous employers, for the learning opportunities from which he benefited.

"Rail is the future of transport," Matodzi says with enthusiasm. He sees a long-term shift from road to rail transport. "Rail is cleaner, more-efficient and faster when moving people and goods," he states. Matodzi has already worked on high-speed trains and locomotives, and has time in manufacturing facilities in England, so he is no stranger to foreign ideas and skills. These are what he expects to bring back from France and to share with his colleagues.

"That's how I learned. And it's how I'll help train others as Gibela grows."

"Rail is the future of transport – it is cleaner, more efficient and faster when moving people and goods" – Matodzi Mukhuba, mechanical engineer

Philisande Somdaka

BTech (Electrical Engineering), Tshwane University of Technology

Philisande comes to the engineering validation team with valuable teaching experience at his alma mater. Although his previous work experience has involved widely divergent industries, the tasks have been the same – designing and managing industrial processes and controls, sometimes initiating projects from scratch. It is a background that augurs well for the training of South Africans who will be engaged in local design and manufacturing. Philsande has few illusions or apprehensions and believes that as a member of the Gibela team he will be able to identify problems before they arise. He is confident he can take foreign ideas and customise them for the local market. "There will be challenges here," he explains, "particularly when it comes to the reliability of electricity supply. But challenges are there to be overcome."

Philisande is keen to discover how Alstom – which he describes as one of the world's great power and transport technology companies – does things, and to transfer those techniques and skills to South Africans.

"Of course the Gibela project will have its challenges, but challenges are there to be overcome, and we will be ready and waiting" – Philisande Somdaka, electrical engineer

Kasturie Pillay

N3 (Electrical Engineering), Cato Manor Technical College
NDEMC (Mechanical Engineering), Unisa

Kasturie exemplifies South African grit and determination, and is undoubtedly self-motivated. "I studied part time while working because my family situation prevented full-time university studies," she explains. Kasturie is also planning on studying further when she gets the chance. Kasturie, now a senior mechanical engineer at Gibela, has extensive skills that lie in design and have been gained progressively over more than a decade. She will have a major responsibility for much of the design work and for ensuring components and completed trains are manufactured to specification. "There will be no room for error as Gibela moves into manufacturing rolling stock at its new factory," she says. And she is aware that there will be people waiting to be trained when she returns from France in 18 months' time with her colleagues. "Our group of six will have had the benefit of training abroad under experienced mentors, and although others will follow in our footsteps, we definitely have a responsibility pass on our knowledge and skills. It will take time and patience, but we will get there in the end, because we believe in the Gibela journey," she concludes.

"We believe in the Gibela journey, and we realise the extent of our collective responsibility to pass on the skills we acquire abroad to colleagues at home" Kasturie Pillay, senior mechanical engineer

Denzel Momplé

BTech (Mechanical Engineering), Unisa

Denzel Momplé will tell you the reason he joined Gibela is "to work on a project of national importance". Beyond its size and cutting-edge technology, Denzel sees the project as "touching the lives" of millions of rail passengers. He is already future-gazing and sees Gibela as an organisation that will have the whole of Africa and more as its market.

Denzel's working life has almost always been in railways and in developing and managing systems that have become progressively more technical. Like several of the group sent for training abroad, Denzel has combined practical work experience with his extra-mural studies, demonstrating his level of commitment.

As an Integration Engineer, Denzil looks forward to his responsibilities in design engineering and creating and introducing new, specialised products. "We will be designing from the ground up as we undergo the transfer of know-how between Alstom abroad and Gibela in South Africa," says Denzel. "And coming back home to pass on our knowledge." This project can only go from strength to strength".

"This is a project of national importance that will touch the lives of millions of South African rail passengers. I can't wait to get going" – Denzel Momplé, mechanical engineer

Bertus Els

BEng (Electronic Engineering), University of Pretoria

Bertus would have been a brain surgeon if his grandparents had had their way. But Bertus – whose eyes light up at the mention of modern railways – had his own ideas. Engineering was a more attractive proposition and a career he was determined to pursue after high school.

Since graduating in 2006, Bertus has been in railway engineering – steadily building his experience and skills in South Africa and the USA. On his return from training abroad he will be part of the team that validates the first 20 Gibela trains from Alstom's Brazilian manufacturing facility. Bertus believes that French railway equipment engineering leads the world and that South Africa will gain from Gibela's association with Alstom. "In future there will be opportunities for Gibela not only in Africa, but in Australia and Latin America," Bertus predicts.

He sees his colleagues as a young, motivated group with synergistic skills – a group that works well together. "The people who work here want to be here". His past experience has been mainly locomotives, but it is a small step to the electric multiple units (EMUs) that will form the backbone of Gibela's operation.

"We are a motivated group of engineers and there is a synergy between our skills. Most importantly, the people who work here want to be here. I believe Gibela has great possibilities in the year ahead" – Bertus Els, electronic engineer