'Barging' in on male territory

TERRY HUTSON
NONTHLANTHLA QWABE has become the first woman in South Africa to earn her spurs as a barge master on harbour duty - and in Africa’s busiest port to boot.
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Qwabe received a masters certificate as a barge master on May3 that will entitle her to take command of a bunker barge while in harbour use. In advance of sitting for this exam she first had to complete 18 months as mate on FFS Bunkers' Durban-based bunker barge Black Egret.
She will continue working on board the Black Egret in the role of mate while preparing to take her pilot exemption exam for port operation. After that it is a case of having to wait for a vacancy before filling the master’s seat in the wheelhouse of Black Egret.
Prior to joining the barge she did a cadetship with the company on board the tanker Dolphin Coast, operating between Durban and Richards Bay - having joined the black empowered company after completing a maritime studies course at the Natal Technikon (now called KZN Institute of Technology).
“I did my schooling at Mqhawe High School at Umzinyathi, where the rural schools have little or no knowledge of or receive little information about maritime studies and other industry opportunities. It wasn’t until I attended the technical college that I learned there was such a thing as maritime studies and immediately I decided this was the path for me,” she told FTW.
Qwabe is married and has two children.