Captain Rufus Lekala obtained a postgraduate degree in maritime studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal Friday. He basked in the glow of his brighter backgrounds during one of the university’s virtual graduations.
LEKALA THE MASTER OF HIS OWN DESTINY
Lekala was born in a small village called Kutupu in Limpopo and is married with three children.
Before becoming the head of the maritime service of the Transnet National Port Authority, he began his career in 1995 after working as a taxi driver. He used to drive the streets of Mamelodi, Pretoria for five years.
Lekala’s journey in the maritime sector began at what was called Cape Technikon when he obtained a scholarship to continue his studies.
He used the Transnet scholarship to prepare a degree in maritime studies.
Lekala candidly says that before it became his passion, he only studied because he saw it as an opportunity to save his family from a life of hardship.
“There was nothing that inspired me to join the industry. I desperately needed a career that would lift my family and me out of poverty. Fortunately, the maritime sector has presented itself as a house that I will never trade for anything”,
said the harbor master
Since coming aboard, his hard work in the maritime industry started at Transnet as a tug captain in the port of Cape Town, and he later served as a marine pilot in the port of Saldanha Bay.
Lekala was also the first black harbor master in East London Harbor in 2002 and later in Cape Town and Durban.
He is now the Chief Port Captain of the National Ports Authority of Transnet since June 2011.
FROM PASSENGER CONDUCT TO CARGO SHIPS AND PORTS
Lekala says he is very proud of himself, but more importantly, he is grateful for his family’s support and encouragement.
He is now back in his duties as Chief Harbor Captain where Lekala is given the vital responsibility of overseeing the planning and execution of port maritime operations.
Responsibilities included designating where ships should be in port, vessel traffic management services, provision of pilotage services, conservation and other sea-related operations.
Lekala is still pursuing his academic aspirations as he is currently studying for a Masters of Commerce in Maritime Studies through UKZN.
His study focuses on the impact of changing container ship sizes on ports and he explores the cascading effects from the perspective of the South African complementary container port system in Durban, Ngqura and Cape Town .
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