March 8, 2006
By Lucille Davie
GAUTENGERS are being asked to vote for one of two brand logos for the province's Gautrain, the first sod of which is to be turned in a month or two.
"This will be a brand that reflects the views of the people of Gauteng," said the MEC for finance and economic affairs, Paul Mashatile, at a media briefing on Tuesday, 7 March.
Gauteng residents have until Friday, 17 March to register their vote, which can be done through a 24-hour telephone line on 083 918 0801, through an online vote on the Gautrain website, or by sending an SMS to 32310. Five prizes of R1 000 each will be handed out to voters.
The idea was to establish a brand that was as recognisable as many familiar brands that bombarded us in everyday life, said the MEC for public transport, roads and works, Ignatius Jacobs.
The brand needed to reflect the major cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, and be part of a "world-class African hub".
"We are making Gauteng part of that, more globally competitive," he said. Spreading the wealth of the province to the benefit to all people was another aim.
Jacobs spoke about Africanising the Gautrain brand, particularly as the train would be Africa's first high-speed train.
One of the logos incorporates the colours of the national flag in a speedy elongated shape, the other is a similar elongated shape but in gold. Both cap the word "Gautrain".
According to a press release, the red line in the first logo represents the "aerodynamic and modern shape of the train. The green and blue lines represent the principle of 'connection' as they travel in different directions. Grounding the logo is a subtle gold arc, which intrinsically represents the 'richness' of the Gauteng land". The logo "exudes world-class status: it is fresh and modern and the classic design of the typography and use of primary colours will ensure that the logo can 'live' successfully for years to come."
The second gold logo is "distinctively South African/African; and it represents Gauteng, its heritage, its soul and its dreams of a golden future. It is gold that we have used as the key element for this version of the 'The Gold Train', the Gautrain."
It is hoped that the "powerful design shapes encompass all that the Gautrain has to offer: speed, efficiency and futuristic world-class design".
Jacobs said he wanted the Gautrain to be combination of what Amsterdam, London and Japan represented: diversity, multiple languages and a fusion of culture and art.
The 80km Gautrain will run between Johannesburg, Tshwane and Johannesburg International Airport, with an approved budget of R20-billion. It is expected that 93 000 jobs will be created over the next five years, in the construction, operation and maintenance areas.
The Gautrain will be a public-private partnership, with the Department of Transport making R10-billion available from its infrastructure budget over the next three years, and the other R10-billion coming from loans and the private sector.
The MEC for local government, Qedani Mahlangu, said that in an effort to ensure adequate skills transfer, the Gautrain team would offer 15 bursaries, five each to mechanical, civil and electrical engineering students. As soon as construction started, students would be taken on board, with the offer of getting practical experience in France, Canada and England, at the headquarters of the international companies in the consortium formed to construct the train, the Bombela International Consortium.
"It will be very exciting for a young engineer to work on something like this," she said.
In the meantime, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa met managers of Eskom, Telkom, Rand Water, Egoli Gas and cellphone operators on Tuesday to agree on the re-location of infrastructure for the construction of the Gautrain.
"Arising from today we can really begin to work as a team and realise the vision of the Gautrain," Shilowa said.
Some 26 work streams would soon start work on re-location of infrastructure, working together within agreed timeframes, overseen by a high-level forum.
Shilowa stressed the broader benefits of the Gautrain, saying it would be the "backbone" of an integrated public transport system.
"Apart from the economic and transport objectives that had been set for the project, the Gautrain would benefit the long-term sustainability and growth of the Gauteng economy, improve the quality of life of all its citizens and reduce pollution."
Postponed from January, it is likely that the sod-turning ceremony will now take place in April.
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