SA women make history in marine industry

With Women’s Day being celebrated next Tuesday (August 9), it is highly topical to headline three Durban women who have made history by becoming Africa’s first black, female marine pilots to obtain an open licence that enables them to navigate ships of any size and type into South African waters. Not only are Precious Dube, Bongiwe Mbambo and Pinky Zungu three of only five female marine pilots in South Africa, but their open licence gives them authority to guide anything from the very smallest vessels to the biggest supertankers and container ships into port. The three were among the earliest development candidates introduced by Transnet National Ports Authority in the late 90s to encourage more black participation in the country’s ports. According to Tau Morwe, Chief Executive of Transnet National Ports Authority, the achievements of the three illustrated the successes of the port authority’s maritime sector, which used to be closed off to the historically disadvantaged, including women, but this is changing as women are now found across all levels of the country’s maritime sector, from crane operators to senior executives. Dube from Inanda Newtown was the first female to qualify with an open licence and said she was very excited when told of her historic achievement. “The captains of foreign ships can be very sceptical when you’re a woman because it’s not common for them to see a female marine pilot, although I’ve heard there are a few in the United States and possibly Australia,” she said. Mbambo, 29, is originally from Esikhawini on the North Coast of KZN but now lives in Glenwood, Durban. She laughs when she recalls the amazement of the captain of the first vessel she guided in after qualifying as an open licence pilot recently. “The captain actually took photographs and recorded a video while I was performing my job alongside him. It was very funny,” she says. Zungu was the latest to qualify and echoed the proud sentiments of her peers.