Media releases

The first new commuter train to be built in South Africa in more than 40 years is undergoing final testing at Gibela’s new R1 billion train manufacturing plant at Dunnottar in Ekurhuleni, ahead of being handed over before the end of 2018 to the customer, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), for Metrorail.

Gibela, the Alstom-led BEE train manufacturing joint venture, today hosted the President of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa for the official opening of its flagship train manufacturing plant in Ekurhuleni, the first of its kind on the continent. This is the site where 580 modern commuter trains will be built – by South Africans for South Africa.

Gibela, the Alstom-led BEE train manufacturing joint venture, today hosted the President of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa for the official opening of its flagship train manufacturing plant in Ekurhuleni, the first of its kind on the continent. This is the site where 580 modern commuter trains will be built – by South Africans for South Africa.

Dunnottar-based train manufacturer Gibela has hosted a Local Business Orientation Day, the primary objective of which was to give entrepreneurs in communities closest to the company’s factory insights into how it operates and what opportunities exist to work together.

Dunnottar-based train manufacturer Gibela has hosted a Local Business Orientation Day, the primary objective of which was to give entrepreneurs in communities closest to the company’s factory insights into how it operates and what opportunities exist to work together.

Ekurhuleni-based train manufacturer Gibela has publicly renewed its commitment to Make A Difference in the communities neighbouring its Dunnottar factory at an event at Mom Sebone Secondary School in Duduza.

I wish to acknowledge the MMC of Finance in Ekurhuleni and his delegation, members of the school governing body, councillor and ward committee members.

As 2017 draws to a close, the new factory and training centre complex and corporate office of emerging South African commuter train manufacturer Gibela, at Dunnottar in Ekurhuleni, is nearly complete – just short of two years from the start of construction.

Gibela wishes to distance itself from the flyers and Facebook posts that are currently circulating about the recruitment of people for a significant number of technical positions.

Gibela Rail Transport Consortium (Gibela) announced today that Mpho Makwana has taken over from Dr Xolani Humphrey Mkhwanazi as chairman of Gibela’s board of directors with effect from 1 October, 2017.

Gibela is a new, exciting, empowered South African company, charged with building South Africa’s new commuter trains right here in South Africa, by South Africans, over the next 10 years. In doing so, Gibela will revitalise South Africa’s once proud railway industry.

With its R1 billion train factory at Dunnottar in Ekurhuleni now 65% complete, South African train-builder Gibela is on track to complete its first South African-made X’trapolis Mega commuter train by the end of 2018.