The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises has concluded its two-day oversight visit to state-owned companies in the Western Cape.
The Committee visited Transnet (Port of Cape Town, Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) Saltriver and Port of Saldanha Bay) from 1 to 2 August. The trip was a continuation of the last two oversight trips that the Committee undertook last month. The committee visited South African Airways, South African Express Airways, Eskom and Transnet in the following provinces, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
The main purpose of the visit was to assess the impact of Transnet infrastructure projects on communities in terms of job creation, skills development and transfer, promotion of local manufacturers in the small and medium enterprises and lastly, to inspect the working conditions of employees.
The committee found that transfer of skills was being properly implemented. Members of the committee lauded Transnet for ensuring that there was skills transfer from senior employees to junior ones. During the site tour, the committee discovered that Transnet Rail Engineering School had prioritised young people from previously disadvantaged background. The underprivileged youth were employed as apprentices; some students were awarded bursaries and learnerships.
Members expressed concerns at the use of labour brokers, said Peter Maluleka, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises: “We are happy that we came here so that we get to see what it is that happens on the ground. It is not only enough that we sit in Parliament and listen to presentations. We have to see for ourselves what we are briefed on is in fact reality”.
The committee resolved that it would, on a yearly basis, go back to assess progress of the corporate social investments projects that Transnet had promised to embark on. The committee urged Transnet to work with organised labour and the local community in order for the company to reach its goals, especially the R300 billion expansion programme which focuses on infrastructure.
For enquiries please contact:
Ms Yoliswa Landu
Cell: 073 738 0182
Tel: 021 403 8203
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
