TWO locally-based women were victorious in the continent’s Women in Transport Awards at the Durban ICC on Tuesday, 18 October.
Aimed at celebrating women in the historically male-dominated rail and maritime industry, the awards saw two Durban Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA) women recognised for their expertise and commitment.
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TNPA acting ship repair manager, Sylvia Siyo from the Port of Durban, won the best head of department in transport award and Transnet Maritime School of Excellence (MSoE) senior marine training facilitator, Khomotjo Mphahlele won for best skills contributor.
Siyo started her career with Transnet as a diesel electric artisan at what was Spoornet. After five years, she went on to become a technical supervisor at Transnet rail engineering: locomotive maintenance. Another six years later, she transitioned to customer service manager at Transnet engineering: coach business for two years.
Since 2012 she has been the deputy dockyard manager at TNPA’s Workshop 24 in the ship repair precinct.
Mphahlele teaches marine-related courses and compiles training material relevant to the industry. She also helps educate teachers at schools offering maritime subjects.
Prior to her maritime career, she worked as a fitter and turner before moving to the automotive sector.
Her current vocation began in 2003 when she began her maritime studies. In 2005 she became a sailing cadet and achieved a SAMSA certificate of competence in 2007.
Her career has seen her sailing aboard research ships, bulk carriers, petroleum tankers and diamond mining ships.
“We are pleased to have these hard working women in the port being recognised by these national prestigious awards.
The maritime sector used to be 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 winners and finalists are testament to the success of many of our programmes,” said Durban Port manager, Moshe Motlohi.
Along with Siyo, in the best head of department in transport category, three other local TNPA women were finalists – Nandipha Mtsokoba, senior engineer, heading up Operation Phakisa in the Port of Durban’s ship repair precinct; Captain Pinky Zungu, Port of Durban deputy harbour master: nautical and Silindile Mkhabela, senior operations manager in the Port of Durban’s Maydon Wharf precinct.
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