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SAIMI supports Nelson Mandela Bay sea cadets

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The TS Lanherne Sea Cadets recently hosted their annual prizegiving in Humewood, Gqebera, and the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) was there to support the young cadets of Nelson Mandela Bay.

The TS Lanherne Sea Cadets, currently the only active training unit of the South African Sea Cadets in the Eastern Cape, instils values of honour and discipline, as well as provide extramural activities during weekends and school holidays to expose learners to basic maritime skills required to be successful in the maritime sector.

SAIMI Project Coordinator, Mareka Mokwatlo, encouraged the cadets to look wider than just seafaring as a maritime career.

“The South African Sea Cadets Maritime Awareness Programme is an initiative aimed at promoting and raising awareness of maritime-related careers to South African school learners in Grades 6 to 12. SAIMI supports the sea cadets to attract and recruit our future seafarers from this pool of youngsters – in order to lower the attrition rate and reach Operation Phakisa targets,” said Mokwatlo.

Gert Van Staaden, SASC Lieutenant (Officer-in-Charge), said many TS Lanherne cadets have gone on to join the police, navy, army and air force.

A familiar sight on a Friday night when driving down Beach Road in Humewood would be the sea cadet parade by youth members dressed neatly in their distinct uniforms.

“The sea cadets instil discipline in the youth, which they actually crave. Every cadet joins voluntarily, and the support of SAIMI has helped us to get the cadets where we want them to be,” said Van Staaden.

Currently the TS Lanherne Sea Cadets train 96 youth members, but the numbers do fluctuate with a total of 54 youth members who joined the initial bootcamp. The learners come from over 20 different high schools in the region.

Ms Zulfa Moodie, SASC Sub-Lieutenant, concurred that the SAIMI support to the TS Lanherne Sea Cadets provides a good backing for the organisation in partnering to transform the youth’s lives.

“Our youth do come from disadvantaged areas, but we don’t call it that. We tell them that we make the impossible, possible. They come here with no background but, by wearing the uniform and adhering to our code of conduct, it changes their lives for the better,” said Moodie.

Grade 11 Chapman High School learner Tarryn Lepico said the most valuable part about the sea cadet training for her was having someone that is constantly there to advise, help and supervise.

“The training made me want to be the example that I want to see in my community, as currently there is no example. I therefore want to be that example for other young people within my community,” said Lepico.

Analicia Frazenburg, another Grade 11 learner from St James High School who is a sea cadet, said the training was fun and she made many new friends. “I have learnt to always listen to people’s opinions. I want to pursue a career in sea transporting,” said Frazenburg.

The South African Sea Cadets Maritime Awareness Programme is generously funded by the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) and implemented nationally at eleven training units in four provinces. SAIMI is responsible for project management support to the South African Sea Cadets. The TETA funds allow each training unit to provide cadets and volunteer facilitators with uniforms, health and safety clothing, training manuals, transport for training activities, food supplies and general site administration.

TS Laherne Sea Cadets
TS Laherne Sea Cadets

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.