Training, creating maritime jobs and engagement with shippers will be high on the agenda of South Africa’s first black chief harbour master Rufus Lekala. When he takes over the position on June 1, Lekala will be the youngest chief harbour master in the World. “I am mindful of stormy waters but my main challenge will be training and development,” he told FTW in his first interview last Wednesday following the announcement of his appointment by Transnet National Ports Authority the day before. Father of two Lekala, 41, succeeds maritime stalwart Captain Mike Brophy who served in the position from 2005 until his recent retirement. “My focus as I settle into the role will be on stabilising the department structure, while updating the country’s policies on marine resources, dangerous cargo movement, vessel entry guidelines, ship vetting systems, and training and development,” he said. Lekala, a former taxi driver from Autupu village in Limpopo, entered the maritime industry at the age of 25 via a Portnet bursary in 1995. “Until then, I’d never even seen the sea in my life,” he said. Over the past 10 years, he scored many firsts by becoming the country’s first black harbour master in the Eastern Cape, Cape Town and Durban. Now, he wants to open the door to others by living up to the mentoring and coaching role expected in his new position. “I plan to collaborate with shippers across the board. We already have a lot of qualified cadets with theoretical knowledge who have not had a berth on ships,” he said. “I want to engage at high level to ensure that opportunities are made available.”
