The eThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) has bid farewell to Ayanda Sikobi who will be starting a new role at the K-Line Shipping Company.
Sikobi, a former Marburg Secondary pupil, first joined EMC as an intern back in 2019 applying her trade in the Clusters Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme.
eThekwini Maritime Cluster Managing Director, Zenzile Gwamanda, said being a beneficiary of the Training and Skills Development’s Graduate placement programme, Sikobi is a testimony and a success story for the EMC brand.
She said Sikobi has been facilitating all of EMC’s Enterprise and Supply development programmes.
“She graduated with a Bcom Honors majoring in Economics from Westville University. She co-authored an article with Massachusetts Professor Portia Ndlovu in Maritime Awareness. She was an Assistant Research for Professor Mickey Chasomeris of the University of KwaZulu-Natal GSB. In 2021, she completed her MSc in Maritime Affairs, majoring in Shipping Management and Logistics at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo-Sweden, a postgraduate Maritime university founded by the International Maritime Organization, a specialised agency of the United Nations. A 14 months scholarship programme sponsored by the Transport Education Training Authority (TETA),” she said, adding that looking after the ESD portfolio, Ayanda excelled in her duties prompting the trust and belief of the management.
Gwamanda said among the things Sikobi achieved while with the eThekwini Maritime Cluster included an Aquaculture entry level certificate (Gariep), Aquaculture Specialist certificate attained in Egypt; Speaker for the Xiamen (China) Nice-Durban Dialogue: Mutual Learning Among Maritime Civilisations For A Shared Future; Masters in Maritime studies from the World Maritime University.
“I wish her a bright future ahead. While I hope our paths cross in the future, I wish her all the luck and prosperity in the world even if that does not happen. May you only meet good people and make the best memories. This is what EMC is all about. From the grassroots level to being an industry expert. The eThekwini Maritime Cluster has taken a mandate to contribute to the fight against youth unemployment by introducing programmes like the graduate placement programme. We’ve had many of these success stories and we want to continue and achieve greater than we have,” she said.
She added: “My experience would tell me not everyone would be an entrepreneur or have their own businesses. Fortunately, at EMC we implement programmes focusing on all levels for the benefit of every individual in our society. The Graduate Placement programme will continue with the work done, placing graduates within the Maritime industry for work exposure, experience, and retained by the industry for continued growth,” said Gwamanda.
Gwamanda said although Sikobi’s departure saddens them, she will be sadly missed, adding that everyone at EMC is happy for her because she has more promising possibilities ahead of her.
“The EMC team wishes her the best of luck at her new job,” she said.
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