Gibela rejects Grennupp, UPCF-SA demands
Gibela Rail Transport Consortium (Gibela) – about to start construction of a R1-billion factory complex at Dunnottar for the manufacture of 580 new trains for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa – has rejected demands contained in a joint memorandum received recently from community-based organisations Greater Nigel United People's Parliament (Grennupp) and Unemployment People's Cooperative Federation of South Africa (UPCF-SA).
In its response to the memorandum, issued by communications director Pamella Radebe, Gibela says the rejected demands are “designed to undermine its governance systems and procedures by relinquishing them to third parties”.
Gibela says the two organisations have no legal basis for demanding:
• Removal of contractors and sub-contractors the company has appointed;
• Management and operation of an access system on the construction site, without a formal tender system;
• Access to all sourcing opportunities;
• Selecting local CLOs at the construction site;
• Establishing a fully functional office at site;
• Forming part of the adjudication of tenders; and
• Selecting local sub-contractors and suppliers.
Gibela, in its response, goes on to say it is factually incorrect for the memorandum to assert that Gibela is a government entity and that the company does not carry a mandate as described in the memorandum.
“Gibela is a privately held company, registered in the Republic of South Africa and Black Economic Empowerment-compliant with its share equity held by Alstom, Ubumbano Rail and New Africa Rail.
“The Companies Act of South Africa, as well as Gibela’s world-class internal governance systems and procedures set forth in the parameters for the operations of the company on which it is audited periodically and annually by registered accountants.”
In response to the two organisations’ demand for an emergency meeting, Gibela says two members of the Stakeholder Forum do not have the authority to request an urgent meeting without a quorum.
“In the event that other stakeholders deem it necessary that such an emergency meeting be held, an agenda must be proposed, together with consent from the remaining stakeholders.”
In response to allegations regarding its recruitment process, Gibela says it has partnered with the Department of Labour in an open and transparent process designed to ensure a central collection point for CVs for all jobs required at site.
Contractors and sub-contractors at site are required to source labour from this pool of CVs.
“To date, 12 000 CVs have been collected and, in line with the job requirements of a construction site that is still at mobilisation stage, 85 people have been recruited.
“Over the next few months, it is envisaged that 1 900 people will be recruited and employed on limited duration contracts.
“The recruitment drive is still on and people are encouraged to submit their CVs to the Department of Labour Centres in Nigel, Springs, Brakpan, Benoni and Boksburg.
In response to allegations of corruption, Gibela says it encourages and is open to receiving proof of illegal activities involving its employees and partners via the alert procedure, as communicated to all stakeholders and the relevant authorities, for prosecution.
