The recently awarded contracts within the rail industry will in the next five to ten years place tremendous pressure on the skills requirements within this sector in South Africa. On Tuesday, 5 August, D3 held their first 'Discover your career in Rail' industry initiative at Oosrand Secondary School in Reiger Park, Boksburg.
"This initiative aims to address the scarce skills we face in this industry. This is an entry point to our youth to attract the next 'rail' generation. It is with these industry initiatives that we are able to create awareness about companies and opportunities within the rail sector and we look forward to growing the next generation of rail employees. Secondary schools in Gauteng will be targeted to create excitement and interest in the learners to follow a career in the rail industry," says Lara Slogrove, MD of D3.
The event was made possible through the participation of both Transnet Freight Rail and Bombardier Transportation. Transnet Freight Rail is the largest Operating Division of Transnet SOC Ltd. Transnet Freight Rail has awarded a number of new locomotives to be manufactured locally by Bombardier Transportation.
Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. Bombardier Transportation is head-quartered in Berlin, Germany and has a very diverse customer base with products or services in more than 60 countries.
Industry leaders and professionals shared their stories about their career growth and development, which opened the minds of the learners to new and exciting careers in rail.
Enos Marobane started his career at Transnet Freight Rail in 2009 and is now a communication specialist, after receiving his BA Media Studies at the University of Limpopo. He says that working for a big organisation such as Transnet was a real challenge; however, his reward is when he can make a difference to young people's lives by providing them with career guidance in the rail sector.
Dobri Makhubela, from Bombardier Transportation, shared his career path in the legal and compliance field. He has 20 years of work experience, ranging from government office through to a number of successful large corporates in South Africa. Makhubela obtained his LLB degree at the University of Limpopo. The highlights of his career have been protecting the interest of the company by ensuring contractual compliance and working in offensive and defensive claims.
Jonas Karlsson, a project manager at Bombardier Transportation, holds a Master of Industrial Engineering and Management at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden and has been with Bombardier since 2010. It is with no surprise that he insists on very good grades in maths and science to follow this career path.
"It is with these industry initiatives that we are able to create awareness about companies and opportunities within the rail sector and we look forward to growing the next generation of rail employees," Slogrove concludes.
