#WomenInTransport: TNPA women leaders in industry

TNPA is also in the running for Best Port Operator or Terminal in Africa, alongside the Namibian Port Authority, Port of Maputo in Mozambique, Port of Tema in Ghana and DSM Corridor Group of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Moshe Motlohi, Durban Port Manager, said: “The maritime sector used to be one that was closed off to the historically disadvantaged, including women, with only 2% of women globally estimated to be involved in the shipping industry. TNPA has solid strategies in place to attract and develop women in the industry and these finalists are testament to the success of many of our programmes.”

Nandipha Mtsokoba

Pinky Zungu

Silindile Mkhabela

Sylvia Siyo

In the category of Best Head of Department in Transport, four of the seven finalists are from TNPA, specifically the Port of Durban. They are:

• Nandipha Mtsokoba, who is presently employed as a senior engineer in the Port of Durban. She is also lead engineer of the Presidential Operation Phakisa initiative in Durban and is managing a team of eight female engineering project managers to help deliver a world-class Durban ship repair precinct by the end of 2019, in line with the SA government's Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy initiative. Mtsokoba is Transnet's first Black female engineer with a Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) and one of only two engineers in the Port of Durban to attain this highest academic qualification in engineering, which grants engineers an opportunity to be appointed as General Machinery Regulation 2.1 in Machinery Supervision - a legal requirement as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993.

• Captain Pinky Zungu, who was appointed as the Port of Durban’s first black female deputy harbour master: nautical in May 2016. Her career with TNPA spans 15 years, starting as a development candidate and progressing to being a tug master, marine pilot, acting deputy harbour master and now deputy harbour master: nautical.

• Silindile Mkhabela, who is presently the senior operations manager in the Port of Durban’s Maydon Wharf Precinct. This multi-purpose precinct handles commodities ranging from dry bulk agricultural products and minerals, break bulk, containers and liquid bulk. It is the most complex for TNPA in that it is operated by 26 largely private terminal operators and one Transnet operating division (Transnet Port Terminals).

• Sylvia Siyo, acting ship repair manager in the Ship Repair Precinct in the Port of Durban. Her tenure at Transnet extends over 16 years. Since 2012 Sylvia has been deputy dockyard manager at TNPA’s Workshop 24. Prior to that, she spent two years with Transnet Engineering: Coach Business as customer service manager, six years with Transnet Rail Engineering: Locomotive Maintenance as a technical supervisor, and five years with Spoornet as a diesel-electric artisan.

In the category of Best Skills Contributor, Khomotjo Mphahlele of the Transnet Maritime School of Excellence, is one of five finalists.

The Women in Transport Awards is a collaborative platform dedicated to recognising excellence within the rail and maritime industry in Africa. This year's awards celebration will be attended by senior-level executives, key decision-makers, and suppliers, within the rail and maritime industry.

Transnet National Ports Authority manages eight commercial seaports in South Africa in a landlord role and is responsible for the port system’s infrastructure, operation, marine services, and legislative and regulatory obligations. The company is a critical contributor towards Transnet SOC Ltd’s Market Demand Strategy and the South African government’s Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy initiatives.

Winners set to be announced at the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, 18 October 2016 at the Durban International Convention Centre.