KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize is shown around Commuter Transport Engineerings Masons Mill premises by the companys managing director, Palello Lebaka. The company that refurbishes trains, by. Picture: Zandile Shange

Two years ago Mason’s Mill in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, lay idle. Today, it is abuzz with activity with a train-repair and manufacturing operation, employing almost 100 people and creating work for other companies.

Commuter Transport Engineering is a company that refurbishes and manufactures train coaches.

The business has done such a sterling job in the previously disadvantaged area, that it has even piqued the interest of Premier Zweli Mkhize, who visited the site last week.

“I came to say hello. I came to see what you are doing and I am highly impressed,” said Mkhize to some of the employees.

Mkhize was astounded to see the “big operation” on the site that he remembered from childhood as being derelict. “You have revitalised a derelict site, a yard where nothing was happening,” he said.

So impressed was Mkhize at the operation that he has committed the provincial government to forging a partnership with the company to make sure that KwaZulu-Natal becomes a hub for the refurbishment of trains.

Nokwanda Majozi proudly points to this trains wheel system which she assembles. Picture: Sharika Regchand

Mkhize said that his department would take steps to assist the company in involving more role-players. He said this was a way of upgrading infrastructure, especially railways, in line with the call made by the president in his recent State of the Nation address.

“This is the industry that will help the province in job creation, economic development and refurbishment of the infrastructure. We would like to partner with Commuter Transport Engineering to change the lives of the people of this province,” said Mkhize.

Palello Lebaka, managing director of Commuter Transport Engineering, said the company decided to open up shop in KwaZulu-Natal after setting up its base in the Western Cape. “After scouring Durban for suitable premises, we eventually found the perfect site at Mason’s Mill,” he said.

Initially, Lebaka was the only employee in Pietermaritzburg while waiting for contracts to be finalised. As the months went by, the staff complement began to grow. “Aside from using the existing infrastructure, the company has also invested in… more infrastructure and we will continue to do so in phases… By April this year, we hope to have about 135 employees,” said Lebaka.

He said that most employees were straight out of tertiary institutions, while some came in off the streets with no work experience. “Most companies in this industry want workers who have experience… So we’ve decided to give them on-the-job experience,” said Lebaka.

Nokwanda Majozi, from Estcourt, was one of those who had been employed without work experience. Having graduated with a mechanical engineering diploma from the Durban University of Technology, Majozi was grateful to have been employed by the company.

KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize is shown around Commuter Transport Engineerings Masons Mill premises by the companys managing director, Palello Lebaka. The company that refurbishes trains, by. Picture: Zandile Shange

“I started here in November 2010 with no experience, but today I am proud because they gave me a chance,” she said.