Neo Ramalepe from Bolobedu is a qualified marine engineer.
GRADE 12 learners hoping to increase their job prospects can explore the maritime industry.
This is according to Reno Jakobsen, the senior vice president Africa region of the global shipping company, A.P. Moller Maersk, who says open seas await young people interested in careers in the maritime industry.
Jakobsen says the challenge that still remains for many of the country’s young people is knowledge of the kind of opportunities that are available to them in various industries that are “out of the norm”.
“The maritime industry is still unexplored. The industry holds huge potential,” says Jakobsen.
Jakobsen says career opportunities can be explored both inland and at sea and in professions such as law specialists, engineers and artisans, managers and maritime economy specialists.
“Ultimately we want young people to know that the maritime industry is not just about shipping, it sits at the nerve centre of South Africa’s economy and can be a job spinner,” says Jakobsen.
Neo Ramalepe, a qualified marine engineer knew nothing about the maritime industry until a friend told him about it.
Born and raised in Moleketla village in Bolobedu South 28 years ago, he is the oldest of three siblings and they were raised by their grandmother. Ramalepe grew up in a household without electricity, no running water and used to walk about 8km daily to school.
After matriculating in 2004, he enrolled for a mechanical engineering diploma at the University of Johannesburg, where he studied through a student loan, which he says he is still paying off.
Upon completing his studies, he heard about the Maersk Line training programme through a friend who had seen an advertisement in the newspaper. He applied and was called for an interview a few weeks later.
“I was shortlisted and selected among 400 people. Training started in 2009, and the South African Maritime Training Academy covered all training costs including my allowance. These training courses took place in Kimberly and Cape Town Peninsula,” says Ramalepe.
Through the Maersk Line training programme, Ramalepe is now a qualified marine engineer. He has obtained certificates for medical aid, fire fighting, and personal safety training, and has been employed permanently as a fourth engineer by Maersk Line.
