#WomensMonth: Durban woman pioneers 25-year review of developmental agenda
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) had its first intake of women in 1995 and Beverley Pastor was the first one in.
IN line with the advent of South Africa’s democracy and in compliance to government policy, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) had its first intake of women in 1995.
Beverley Pastor was the first one in, assuming responsibilities of a secretary in exchange for a career as a professional nurse and then moving onto Operations.
“When reporting for night duty at the port vicinity those days, security would often mistake me for a lady of the night until they saw my access card,” recalled Pastor who now holds the position of senior manager within the Sales and New Business Department.
Citing differences between 1995 and now, Pastor is in awe of training and study opportunities available.
She refers to the absence of change rooms, showers and toilets dedicated for women; the ratio of men and women in any given meeting; provisions of maternity and paternity leave for employees; and the level of empowerment afforded to women by the business in considering other work for them beyond secretarial duties.
“In the mid to late 2000s, there was a mind-set shift. It was no longer compliance. It was effective. More women were joining the organisation in numbers, programs to usher them in and develop them further were in place and opportunities were abound,” said Pastor, adding that the Women in Operations programme remains the most successful by far.
Appointed as the first female Terminal Manager in 2001, the promotion came both as a career peak but was quickly dampened by corridor talks of fellow male co-workers insinuating that Pastor’s promotion was because of sexual favours.
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“If there was one degrading occasion in my entire career, it has to be that. To work so hard, take up all training available to empower myself, work beyond the call of duty ? in full view of everyone and then receive utterances doubting merit. It’s truly deflating,” said Pastor.
She had tendered her resignation when a senior colleague encouraged her to stay on and develop a thick skin. In 2002, the same co-workers had nominated Pastor as Champion of Change, a prestigious internal reward and recognition title – also one of her career highlights. Pastor held the Terminal Manager position at the Durban Car Terminal (RORO) for 10 years, which was the first terminal within TPT that international health and safety standards company NOSA audited. The terminal went on to receive the highest NOSA grading of NOSCAR level for seven consecutive years under her leadership, along with several individual awards and provincial leadership recognition.
Today, Pastor is among the over 30 per cent women population at TPT, contributing to the 40 per cent of women in management where the company’s executive committee is made up of 50 per cent women. The company has increased the representation of women by 3.5 per cent over the last three years, investing over 50 per cent of its training budget on their development annually which amounts to over R60 million.
Advising other women in varying roles across the country’s businesses, Pastor said: “I don’t believe there?s any difference between a business led by a woman or a man. It’s all a matter of taking a keen interest in your career, creating the opportunity, going the extra mile and making use of study opportunities available to give back to the organisation and build yourself up.”
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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.
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