State-owned Transnet has invited eligible students to apply for 171 bursaries, as well as for a training programme for chartered accountants.
This was in line with the company’s commitment to expand and strengthen its skills base, with a particular focus on scarce skills in the engineering and accounting fields.
Transnet had set aside R7.6-billion over the next ten years for skills development and bursaries as part of its rolling R380-billion Market Demand Strategy infrastructure investment programme.
About R1.2-billion would be spent on bursaries for full-time study towards a Bachelor of Engineering or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering at any South African university in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and metallurgy engineering.
The bursaries covered tuition fees, accommodation and meals, a book allowance, and on-the-job training.
Last year, the company awarded comprehensive bursaries to 155 students and currently had 534 bursars in the pipeline.
Transnet also offered a three-year learnership programme for candidates with a Certificate in Theory of Accounting (CTA) or Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Financial Accounting (Bcompt/Hons) or equivalent.
Transnet’s Chartered Accountants Training programme was accredited with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and provided practical experience and preparation for board examinations.
There were currently 20 black professionals across Transnet in various stages of the programme.