SA Navy aims to prioritise gender mainstreaming

While significant strides have been made to ensure that women occupy leadership positions in the South African Navy, much more must be done to mainstream gender, says South African Navy Deputy Chief Navy, Rear Admiral Bubele Mhlana.

“Looking back at 2007 where the overall percentage of women in the SA Navy was 17%, we have managed to increase the percentage to 29% of women in decision-making positions and 33% at entry level,” Mhlana said on Monday in Cape Town. He was addressing young women who visited the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Military Naval Base in Simon’s Town.

Learners from various schools toured a shipyard at the military naval base as part of Women’s Month activities that showcased the role of women in the maritime sector.

This year’s Women’s Month is celebrated under the theme, ‘Accelerating socio-economic opportunities for women’s empowerment’. The theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of society.

“Significant strides have been made at leadership level [but] we cannot become complacent. Much more must be done to mainstream gender. I emphasise that the maritime security domain presents limitless opportunities for young women who have a significant role in unlocking the potential of our blue economy.

“Gender mainstreaming should not be an aspiration; it should be seen as an imperative. It is time for women to take their rightful place,” Mhlana said.

He said harnessing the potential of young people is vital to unlocking and exploiting the vast ocean economy potential.

“The South African navy has a key role to play in Operation Phakisa, most particularly in terms of maritime enforcement. Operation Phakisa Economic Lab features several streams including marine protection and governance where the South African Navy plays a meaningful role through operations and the patrols it conducts at sea,” Mhlana said.

The government launched Operation Phakisa in 2014 with the goal of boosting economic growth and creating jobs. This initiative focuses on unlocking the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans, which could contribute up to R177b to the GDP by 2033 and between 800 000 and one million direct jobs.

South Africa has a coastline that spans about 2 800km from Namibia to Mozambique.

With the full integration of women in all spheres within the South African Navy, 44-year-old Nicolette Le Roux occupies the position of a hydrographic survey officer.

Hydrography is the science that measures and describes the physical features of the navigable portion of the earth’s surface and adjoining coastal areas.

“Hydrographic survey entails the collection and processing of hydrographic data and rendering of products. As hydrographic data analysts, we measure the depth of the ocean using various equipment like echo sounders, multi-beams, and single beams. That is the data that we process to provide nautical charts.

“This is important for the safe navigation of all mariners. South Africa is situated along one of Africa’s busiest sea routes and ships need to know where it is safe to sail. Our data can show them where that is,” Le Roux said.

Le Roux joined the navy after completing matric in 1998. She started with basic military training and progressed to training as a combat officer. From 2004 onwards, she specialised in hydrography.

“Our qualifications are recognised internationally and are regulated by the International Hydrographic Organization. The qualifications are equivalent to a degree. The first course, which is a category A survey qualification, is equivalent is a postgraduate diploma in hydrographic surveying and the category B qualification is equivalent to a B.Sc. in maritime science,” Le Roux said.

While the navy has made efforts to educate its organization about not discriminating against women, she explained that women still had to work hard to be recognized.

“You are not always seen as someone who is supposed to be there. Luckily, the navy has done a lot in terms of gender equality and workshops to educate about gender equality.