Gibela Rail Transport Consortium

Gibela is a black economic empowerment rail transport consortium made up of Alstom, the international train maker, and uBumbano Rail. Gibela was established in 2013 as a ring-fenced company to carry out the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) contract to build new commuter trains, and Gibela operates a factory in Dunnottar, Ekurhuleni.

Registered name

Gibela Rail Transport Consortium

Type

Private company (rail manufacturing consortium)

Fields funded

Mechanical, electrical and rail engineering, at universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges

Website

gibela-rail.com

Building trains in South Africa

Gibela’s work goes beyond assembling trains. Gibela describes creating a robust operating environment for rolling stock and service activities and supporting PRASA in service operations at regional level under its contract. The consortium has localised significant rail manufacturing capability, training artisans and engineers in rolling stock production, according to a provider record checked in August 2026.

Gibela confirmed Reggie Boqo as chief executive officer from 1 October 2025, after he had acted in the role since April 2024; before that, Boqo served as Gibela’s chief financial officer.

Reaching learners early

Gibela invests in young people before university. Gibela Rail gave 20 mathematics learners a tour of its plant, showing them how the maths they study connects to engineering careers in rail manufacturing.

The Gibela bursary

The Gibela bursary aims to develop scarce skills in the rail sector by funding students at universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges, according to BursariesAfrica’s earlier guide. The provider record describes support for mechanical, electrical and rail engineering, alongside apprenticeships. Our Gibela guide has not been refreshed with 2027 dates.

How to research Gibela

Check Gibela’s website for bursary and apprenticeship notices, and contact Gibela to ask whether a bursary will run for 2027, which qualifications it covers and whether bursars do practical training at the Dunnottar factory. TVET students should ask specifically about artisan training, since Gibela funds skills at that level too.

Learn about the trains Gibela builds for PRASA and the rail network they run on. A student who can explain how electrical, mechanical and signalling systems come together in a modern commuter train shows real interest.

Gibela’s factory also relies on a supply chain of local component makers, so students in industrial engineering and supply chain management can ask whether Gibela’s bursary covers those fields. Rail manufacturing needs quality, planning and logistics skills as much as engineering design.

See the PRASA bursary for another rail-sector funder.