Female port pros visit Japan
Transnet Port Terminals aims to increase its female staff complement
RICHARDS Bay Terminal Manager Panaso Ndlela was one of 130 leading female managers within the Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) to visit Japan for a two-week empowerment programme.
The women were chosen by the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) seeking to uplift female leaders in the transport sector under the auspices of the Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association (HIDA).
‘It is the duty of every leader to ensure that women in the workplace enjoy the same opportunities as their male counterparts,’ said TPT Chief Executive Karl Socikwa.
TPT’s executive committee currently has four female managers heading hefty portfolios including Procurement; Commercial, Planning and Corporate Affairs; Enterprise Information Management Systems and Innovation as well as Safety, Security and Sustainability.
‘Throughout TPT, over 1000 women have been given opportunities through learnership programmes, bursaries and apprenticeships to the tune of R18-million in the previous financial year alone,’ said Socikwa.
‘Annually, TPT also hosts school girls as part of Transnet’s Techno Girl Programme aimed at increasing career choices of young females within the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
‘This year we have 52 girl pupils that visit our operations and shadow staff during school holidays,’ said Socikwa.
Over the past year, TPT has spent R154-million employing black women-owned suppliers and recently launched enterprise development flagship Singakwenza Kwenzeke to upskill 20 women-owned, engineering SMMEs (Small, Medium and Macro Enterprises) across South Africa.
‘Our organisation recognises the contribution of women and we continually seek ways of broadening the opportunities for further empowerment of women,’ said Socikwa.
He added that as TPT’s managers return from Japan, another 19 will start a Management Development Programme through the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
