Mossel Bay Port honours Madiba centenary with Careers Expo

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) will be honouring former president Nelson Mandela in the year of his centenary celebrations with a free careers exhibition at the Port of Mossel Bay on 24 July 2018 at the Quay 4 shed, in addition to several other initiatives by the national port landlord.

The inaugural exhibition aims to serve as a gathering of employers in a bid to showcase career, bursary, employment, mentorship, graduate recruitment, internships, training and skills development opportunities to high school learners, unemployed youth and the general public of the Garden Route.

Port Manager Shadrack Tshikalange said the careers expo is a great opportunity for local youth and the community to learn about the multitude of career opportunities available, not just within the maritime industry but in the country at large.

“Nelson Mandela advocated the power of education in shaping our country. We believe investing in local youth and exposing them to various careers is in line with Mandela’s vision for the development of South Africa’s future leaders. TNPA is also mandated by the National Ports Act of 2005 to promote awareness of the ports, maritime careers and business opportunities offered by this industry,” he said.

Exhibitors already onboard include Nestle, PetroSA, Transnet, South African Police Services (SAPS), Nelson Mandela University, South Cape College, Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Department of Labour, NYDA and SEDA. “We call upon organisations to register and use this opportunity to inform and advise learners about which career options they should consider or embark on in order to become true leaders of tomorrow and have meaningful careers,” Tshikalange said.

The exhibition ties into TNPA’s focus on education, as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) activities. Other local education initiatives include TNPA’s two adopted high schools – Indwe High School and Hillcrest High School – where it intends to fund programmes that aim to improve performance in Mathematics and Science, which are needed for a number of mission critical careers in the ports and other industries. TNPA also works with three primary schools, Garden Route Primary, Isalathiso Primary and Imekhaya Primary, on its Mathematics and Science Primary School Project jointly hosted with SCIMAT Education and Disposals and aimed at grade 4 to 7 pupils.

Interested organisations or schools can contact Sithembiso Soyaya for more information about participating at the careers expo, on Sithembiso.Soyaya@transnet.net or 044 604 6289.