The Department of Transport hopes government’s Operation Phakisa programme will provide a platform that will create more jobs and attract more investment.

The department’s minister Joe Maswanganyi addressed media on Thursday, saying Operation Phakisa plans to encourage growth in the maritime sector by providing support for more South Africa-owned vessels to import and export goods through the country’s ports.

An emphasis however has been placed on the employment of younger people in order to ensure the shipping industry’s growth and survival.

The Maritime Youth Development Programme (MYDP) was recently launched by Premier Phumulo Masualle in the Eastern Cape, together with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa).

Masualle said the programme aims to address the high unemployment rate in the province. The initiative is a component of Operation Phakisa and will focus on exposing the youth to job opportunities in the sector.

The programme, which has so far taken on 150 unemployed Grade 12 pupils, will equip them with basic competency skills as part of their training to become seamen. Masualle said all the participants, from Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill, Mbizana and Buffalo City Metro, were identified through a youth unemployment programme.

“We have a coastline of more than 800km, and we are saying our people should be able to explore and exploit the opportunities available in the maritime sector,” Masualle said during a tour of some of South Africa’s training and research vessels along the Eastern Cape coast.

To encourage pupils to enter the maritime sector as a field of employment, George Randell High School in East London and Ngwenyathi Senior Secondary in Mdantsane introduced maritime studies as a subject. Masualle said her department plans to expand the maritime schools project.

SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) chief operation officer Sobantu Tiyali said that being in this industry could also potentially be lucrative. “They don’t pay tax and get paid in dollars,” he said.

Malte Kerston from the South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents also said that while the country needs growth by supporting socio-economic transformation, “We want black females as captains of industry” as well.