Public Enterprises Minister, Malusi Gigaba, has unveiled Transnet's second state-of-the-art healthcare train, Phelopepa II.
The official launch took place in Mdantsane in East London on Monday morning.
The new train will operate simultaneously with Phelophepa One that started in 1994 and will extend the reach of Transnet's healthcare offering to hundreds of thousands of people in rural areas of the country.
Both trains provide on-board primary healthcare, dental, optometry and psychological care among others.
"What started off 18 years ago as a modest three-coach eye clinic has become an internationally well-known beacon of hope, providing healthcare throughout South Africa, especially in rural areas," Minister Gigaba said.
"The launch of Transnet Phelophepa II will allow us to reach communities that need it most and demonstrates how public-private sector partnerships can be used to transform lives of communities through social entrepreneurship."
"We have repeatedly committed to ensuring that state-owned enterprises entrusted to us in the Department of Public Enterprises will lead the rest of corporate South Africa as agents of change. In this regard, I challenge the private sector to match or even better this commitment," Minister Gigaba adds.
Transnet Group Chief Executive Mr Brian Molefe says: "Transnet Phelophepa II is in line with our strategic objectives which are aligned with government's New Growth Path. We are honoured that the people of South Africa are allowing us, through our CSR projects, to make a difference in their lives in partnership with training institutions, the private sector and various organs of state. And with this train, we are confident that we will make an even bigger contribution to society by providing more health care to communities that need these services the most."
Each train has 20 permanent staff, 16 contracted security officials and 40 students staffing it. As with its predecessor, Transnet Phelophepa II will run from January to September of every year.
Transnet Phelophepa II will be visiting communities in the Eastern Cape from now until May; the Northern Cape from May to July; North West in July and August and Limpopo in August and September.
