Nearly 150,000 jobs will be created through the Gautrain over the next twenty years, it was announced yesterday.

The claim was made at the launch of the Gautrain broad-based socio-economic development (SED) strategy in Johannesburg, according to a report on Engineering News.

In total, the Gautrain project is expected to create a total of 148,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs over the twenty-year period.

About 93 000 direct, indirect and induced jobs are expected to be created during the design, construction and commissioning phases of the project, with a further 2,700 direct, indirect and induced jobs will be created each year for the maintenance and operation of the Gautrain.

The SED is focused on local skills development, capacity building and job creation, and is based on the government’s socio-economic development objectives.

The Gautrain’s private partner, the Bombela Concession Company, has a 20-year concession agreement with the Gauteng Provincial Government for the 54-month construction period and 15-year operating and maintenance phase of the Gautrain.

Around 11,700 direct jobs have already been created, alongside a further 63,200 direct, indirect and induced jobs.