In honour of their 20th anniversary, Transnet National Ports Authority unveiled a new book and documentary at their Maritime Heritage Celebration event on Wednesday.
Titled ‘TNPA’s Maritime Transformation Legacy’, the book showcases stories of some of the key figures who helped transform the maritime industry in South Africa following the end of apartheid.
The first group of transformed maritime trainees at TNPA, known as the Class of 1999, consisted of 12 candidates who were selected for an accelerated training programme in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Some of the candidates continue to work for TNPA and include:
- TNPA chief harbour master Captain Rufus Lekala
- Port of Saldanha port manager Captain Vernal Jones
- SHE and regulatory oversight executive manager Captain Dennis Mqadi
- Pilotage and VTS senior manager Captain Naresh Sewnath
- Port of Cape Town open licence marine pilots Devan Pullian and Ashley Bergstedt
- Port of Richards Bay open licence marine pilot Sabelo Xulu
- Port of Durban shift manager Ephraim Kesa
- Port of Durban capacity building manager Eric Nkosi
- Theresa Williams, the only female student in the class and current head of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Maritime Studies & Survival Centre
The two other members, Andrew Mataung and Joseph Mbatha, have since passed away.
“As we look back on 20 years with TNPA as an operating division of Transnet, it is with great pride it is with great pride that we reflect on our achievements to transform our maritime resources.
“TNPA has replaced and built new infrastructure, replaced and grown its fleet and developed its mariners and personnel to ensure we’re able to handle new generation vessels and to compete effectively in an increasingly competitive global market,” said Lekala.