RAY SMUTS MARINE CREW Services, the Cape Town-based black empowerment company established specifically to train South African seafarers for placing with international shipping lines, agrees wholeheartedly with president Thabo Mbeki that training funds should not be lying totally unproductive in bank accounts. Commenting on the president’s reaction to the possible loss of R250 million of Teta funds during the Fidentia scandal, MCS director Jan Rabie says the company has been waiting for some years for government to support its highly successful programme that has seen a number of young South Africans headed for international maritime careers. Rabie refers to co-operation between MCS and Sanko Shipping Line of Japan, which ensures that training on board large vessels is provided for the new entrant seafarers who require sea time before they are able to take their final examinations to qualify as officers. This has enabled MCS to gain access to more than 100 vessels in the Sanko fleet, a carrier that remains fully committed to supporting the South African training programme. Rabie blames vested interest at the Seta and Teta decision-making levels for the lack of Teta funding and believes there does not appear to be the same urgency in South Africa to deal with skills training and the development of job opportunities in the maritime field as MCS is experiencing in its dealings with Angola. “What seems to be South Africa’s loss is Angola’s gain because they do support skills training and job creation in the maritime field, using the excellent skills training facilities we have in this country.”
