DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.:1979
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30 July 2010
1979. Mrs H N Ndude (Cope) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:
Whether she had been informed about the risk to the safety and wellbeing
out at sea of female marine cadets who were sponsored by Transnet; if not,
what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps did she take in this
regard? NW2368E
REPLY
Allow me the opportunity to express my sadness and deep regret with the
untimely death of Cadet Akhona Geveza at sea.
It is unacceptable that our cadets, especially women, should be vulnerable
while at sea. Transnet is leaving no stone unturned to investigate her
untimely death. The United Kingdom Marine Coastal Authority (UKMCA), the
Croatian Police and the Transnet Board of Inquiry (BOI) are currently also
performing independent investigations.
As Minister, I am informed annually about the marine training initiatives
through Transnetâs Corporate Plan and the Annual Report. These training
programmes cover marine businesses, dredging services, terminal operations
and Masterâs programme in port and shipping, and are part of the objectives
of the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to develop human capital
skills.
In addition all Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) cadets complete
the following ancillary courses and a cadet safety induction programme
prior to going to sea: First  Aid at Sea, fire fighting, personal survival
and social responsibility, personal safety techniques, cadets are
completely debriefed by the South African Maritime Training Academy(SAMTRA)
on the International Safety Management Systems (ISM) on board vessel,
SAMTRAâs EAP (ICASS) & the Global Management Safety Systems (GMSS) and the
Code of Safe Working Practices by Merchant Seaman.
The safety induction course is a part of the cadet training scheme and is
regulated by law. All mariners are legally obliged to attend a
familiarisation session each time they join a ship for the first time. The
safety aspects peculiar to that ship are then explained to each crew
member.
TNPA is also in the process of developing a special module with the input
of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service providers that will be
specifically aimed at female cadets. This module is intended to prepare the
cadets on what to expect at sea and how to respond to different cultures
and customs that a cadet may encounter at sea and equip them with the
necessary skills on how to deal with and to react to different situations.
Finally all cadets are informed at the induction stage of the different
communication channels that are available to them and if they experience a
crisis, while at sea, they can request a telephone call from the shipâs
Captain. Both the service provider and TNPA introduce cadets to their
respective EAP programmes and how to access these whilst at sea.