After nine years of technology research and skills development, the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium (Gibela), has further strengthened its partnership with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to advance manufacturing and skills development.
The Gibela Research Chair – a key driver of innovation, skills development and localisation in South Africa’s rail manufacturing sector – has been granted a four-year extension, securing its continuation until 2030.
Established in 2016, the Chair supports South Africa’s drive to localise railcar manufacturing by producing research that enhances local capability, supports technology transfer and strengthens domestic supply chains. It also plays a critical role in skills development and community engagement.
In the past five years, the Gibela Research Chair has produced seven patents, more than 300 research publications in conference and journal articles. These outputs position the Chair as a major contributor to industrial innovation and academic scholarship.
In terms of human capital development, the Chair supported 39 Master’s and 24 Doctoral candidates, contributing to a total of 51 graduates. In addition, 16 Postdoctoral Research Fellows were also supported.
The Chair plays a vital role in supplier development, equipping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with technical knowledge, engineering insights and incubation support.
With 80 SMEs empowered through TUT’s Rail Manufacturing Centre of Entrepreneurship and Rapid Incubator (RMCERI) established in 2018, the Chair continues to equip local entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and create opportunities within the railcar value chain.
Over the years, RMCERI has trained more than 3 000 third-year engineering students on entrepreneurship with approximately 200 direct jobs created and 1 400 lives indirectly impacted.
The Chair is also known for its strong community engagement footprint with outreach initiatives focused on raising awareness on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education among high school learners.
These initiatives not only strengthen the talent pipeline but also support socio-economic upliftment by exposing young people to engineering and rail-related career opportunities.
The Research Chair has also embarked on several training courses as a means of generating third-stream income through the Lean Six Sigma training with the City of Tshwane and Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (MerSETA) Black Leadership Development programme.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, said the extension affirms the importance of the work that TUT is doing to advance rail innovation, develop local talent, and strengthen South Africa’s manufacturing ecosystem.
“The extension is a testament to industry’s commitment and trust in TUT’s capabilities in research and innovation. This is extremely timely, since the University has recently made a pronouncement through its new Institutional Strategic Plan 2026-2035, which is fully focused on mainstreaming entrepreneurship in all its programmes and activities,” said Dr Papu-Zamxaka.