​Lerato Mailoane
Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Tuesday visited Alstom Ubunye Rail Factory situated in Nigel, Ekurhuleni.
Alstom, through its South African joint-venture companies, Gibela Rail Transportation Consortium, is a big player in the revitalisation and modernisation of railway transport in South Africa.
Through its 80 000m2 manufacturing plant, Alstom is providing much-needed jobs in the region.
The rail factory has over 550 employees, with 25% of them being women. 
More than 50% of its employees come from the Ekurhuleni municipality and more than 280 are from local communities, including Duduza, Alra Park and Tsakane.
Alstom, which will soon be a world-class provider of sustainable mobility solutions for Africa and beyond, by Africa, produces and supplies the transport sector, including train manufacturer, Gibela Rail Transport Consortium with electrical and mechanical components.
During the tour of the site, Mkhura reconnected with the 28-year-old Ngcebo Mhlongo who he first meet during the  inauguration of the factory in 2019. 
Mhlongo is a prime example of Alstom's commitment to upskilling employees
"I met Ngcebo in October 2019 when I last visited the site. He was a test engineer, currently, Ngcebo is the test manager responsible for testing activities for the entire site. I am delighted to see how Ngcebo has gone up the ranks in just two years," said Makhura.
In full nominal mode, Alstom is set to deliver 62 bogies, 62 end underframes, 20 traction cases and 10 static inverters per month. 
It will also manufacture looming, cubicles and passenger public address, closed circuit television and information systems, and prepare to serve the expected increasing demand for rail innovation in Sub-Saharan countries.