JSE-listed Altron subsidiary, Netstar, has been awarded a three-year contract by the eThekwini Municipality for the supply, integration and maintenance of a vehicle tracking technology solution for 7 000 vehicles.
The multimillion-rand deal, which will involve technology being deployed across the entire fleet, enables the municipality to track, monitor, communicate and respond in real-time.
Commenting on the win, Pierre Bruwer, Netstar Managing Director, said: "Our innovative and world-class technology solutions will be used to assist the eThekwini Municipality in providing a seamless transport service to the citizens of eThekwini. This includes the provision and maintenance of tracking and transport management.
"Partnering with our customers to empower them is part of the Altron fabric, particularly with regard to skills development and service delivery," Bruwer added.
Skills transfer forms part of the contract, and Netstar has committed to ensuring both skills development and female empowerment. Netstar runs an 18-month technician apprenticeship programme, which entails training eThekwini's female employees as technicians within the Fleet Systems and Monitoring division. They have studied Electrical Engineering with support from the City, Altech Netstar and on-site mentors.
Senior Manager at the Municipality's City Fleet, Suben Govender, said the Unit is passionate about ensuring employment equity and the transfer of skills. "In our previous model, we had appointed a service provider to handle the maintenance of our tracking systems, but there was little to no skills transfer. It is imperative that the youth are empowered so that they become employable."
In conclusion, Bruwer had the following to say: "Netstar has been a leader in the safety and security industry in South Africa and is proud to have been selected by the eThekwini Municipality to provide a critical service. Government is a key customer for us, as we continue our journey to provide citizens with innovative solutions that matter."
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