BOMBELA CONCESSION COMPANY
beyond rail
Bombela Concession Company, operator of the Gautrain, is extending its impact beyond transport. Through its partnership with Swimming South Africa, the company is investing in youth development, life-saving skills, and community upliftment.
As the Concessionaire behind the Gautrain rapid rail system, Bombela Concession Company has become a defining force in South Africa’ s public transport landscape. Under the leadership of CEO Andre van Rensburg, the company continues to extend its impact beyond infrastructure, demonstrating how business can help build social value. Recently, Bombela formalised a partnership with Swimming South Africa( SSA) – a collaboration that underscores its broader mission of community upliftment, youth empowerment, and nation-building.
Investing in more than infrastructure Through the Gautrain – a system widely recognised for its safety, reliability and efficiency since inception, Bombela has become synonymous with operational excellence. Still, according to Van Rensburg, Bombela’ s purpose extends beyond transport.
“ We believe that swimming is more than just sport – it offers water-safety and life skills, which resonates with a social development outlook. For a company accustomed to thinking about communities, transport, access and empowerment, this alignment is obvious to us.”
Van Rensburg adds that sport has shown that it can serve as a meaningful vehicle for development.“ Swimming, in particular, can serve as a meaningful channel for the acquisition of life skills, youth development, empowerment, and community impact.”
The partnership, he says, is built on shared principles.“ Our operational excellence in transport maps well, metaphorically, to the discipline, performance, and consistency required in competitive aquatics. We found that there was a particularly good‘ fit’ between our corporate identity and the sporting discipline.”
Chairman Kushil Maharaj, who also serves as Executive Chairman of Intertoll, Bombela’ s majority shareholder, shares this sentiment.“ The work we do contributes to building futures, particularly those of young people. We therefore see our investment in swimming as an investment in future leaders who train hard, knowing that every stroke matters; those who don’ t quit when the waters get rough.”
Creating access and opportunity Through the Learn to Swim( LTS) and Umlazi Sharks School initiatives, the company helps SSA bring swimming instruction and opportunities to thousands of young
76 sabusinessintegrator. co. za