"The Gibela project is history in the making and our group of engineers is excited about making it happen"

Collen Malatji, mechanical engineer

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

Matodzi Mukhuba, mechanical engineer

"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

"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

"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

"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

Home | About us | Shareholding structure

Shareholding structure

Gibela is 61% held by Alstom, 30% by Ubumbano Rail and 9% by New Africa Rail.

Alstom, an internationally recognised leader in rail engineering has had a presence in South Africa for over 100 years. Transnet's rail stock contains significant Alstom content and the majority of the fleet uses Alstom's traction technology. Alstom also provides a broad range of services and solutions in the power and energy sectors worldwide, including South Africa.

The Alstom group employs 93,000 people globally, and as Gibela's majority shareholder is ideally placed to share its expertise in suburban rail transport in the South African context, transferring skills and decades of technical knowledge to the local workforce.

Ubumbano Rail is a black-owned consortium holding 30% of Gibela, with the shares temporarily ‘warehoused’ by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF). Ubumbano Rail is made up of a number of companies that are keen to enter the rail sector space as suppliers. The three commercial entities in Ubumbano Rail are Khipunyawo Rail, whose members have been active in the rail sector for over 10 years; the Elgin-Identity Rail Corporation, an entity whose members have, among other things, heavy fabrication capabilities and wheel refurbishment accreditation; and Community Rail, new entrants to the rail sector.

Other shareholders in Ubumbano Rail include the PRASA Employee Share Option Trust (ESOP), the Gibela ESOP and an education trust. Gibela therefore has a black ownership structure in place that ensures its compliance with South African empowerment legislation.

New Africa Rail (NAR) is a new and dynamic rail entrant created to drive the process of rebuilding Africa through rail. NAR is focused on infrastructure projects including rail, ports, signalling systems, rail logistics, energy efficient technologies and rail real estate. NAR will ensure the participation by black South Africans in the Gibela project by driving maximum local procurement and will seek other investment opportunities in line with their business plan.