Trailblazer
Ratanang Maremane is making waves as a commercial diver at Transnet National Ports Authority
Ratanang Maremane’s wings may have been clipped when she heard she would not be trained as a fighter pilot but that has not stopped her from making waves as a diver.
She dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot and applied for a learnership programme with the South African National Defence Force. However, after completing the learnership, she was instructed to report to the SA Naval Base in Saldanha Bay instead of an air force base.
Maremane, who is originally from Soweto, took the change in her stride and after going through extensive training she became the second black female navy diver in South Africa.
She served the South African Navy until 2008 and is currently the first black female commercial diver at Transnet National
Ports Authority based at the Port of East London.
“Commercial diving is not as easy as dropping in the water to swim with the fish. It is a very specialised and technical field with major risks as you work in a foreign environment where there is often limited visibility, low temperature, extreme pressure changes and marine life that can defeat you in seconds. It is not an easy career, but definitely an interesting one,” she said.
First line of call
Maremane is responsible for work below the surface of the water, using scuba or surface supplied diving gear depending on the nature of the job. She conducts inspections, repair and maintenance of harbour infrastructure.
“Divers are also the first line call where ships experience technical difficulties. We perform underwater inspection on the ship to identify the problem and where possible we resolve the issue underwater, otherwise the ship may require dry docking facilities.”
“On civil construction projects where structures emanate from underwater the diver is the brain and eyes of the engineer underwater,” she explained.
Currently in her third year of her civil engineering studies, Maremane hopes to merge her commercial diving qualification with civil engi-
neering in order to bridge the gap between divers and engineers. She will be able to do engineering work under the water as a diver instead of just relying on civil engineers on land for a way to solve problems.
Maremane has learned a lot in this male-dominant field. One of her most valuable lessons is to not fear the unfamiliar.
“I have to consistently prove that I can do the work that men are doing in this field. As a woman I am usually undermined and some believe that I cannot perform certain tasks because I am a woman. But knowledge is power and that’s how I stay ahead of the game.”
“I never stop equipping myself with knowledge about new technology and legislation in the diving industry. Being physically fit and mentally strong also makes it easier to keep up with the guys. I don’t expect special treatment,” she said.
The grit to get ahead
It has not been easy sailing for the go-getter. After Maremane’s fighter pilot dream was grounded, she suffered another setback when she was initially not selected to be trained as a navy diver.
Fortunately for her, she was among 50 candidate divers selected for a three-month enablement programme to learn swimming skills before undergoing a final diving selection process. This was an initiative of former first lady Zanele Mbeki and is aimed specifically at giving previously disadvantaged children an opportunity to learn water skills before undergoing the intense navy diving selection process.
This programme creates an equal opportunity for young people who were not exposed to water from a young age.
Maremane was the only successful female out of the 17 students who completed the enablement programme and was among the top elite 15 divers to be selected at a final selection process in Cape Town.
Representing South Africa
She represented South Africa in the World Military Championships in 2007 and 2008 in Finland and Croatia respectively and was awarded the Best Female Athlete Award in Croatia and Best Achiever award in Finland.
In 2007 she successfully qualified as a fleet support diver and acquired skills such as underwater damage control, air-sea rescue and chamber attendant. In 2010 she was chosen to represent South Africa in Florida as part of the Slave Wrecks Project in partnership with Iziko Museums, George Washington University and Biscayne National Park Services.
Maremane converted her Military Diving license into a Commercial Diving qualification at the University of Cape Town where she received her Class Four commercial diving licence and Class Four commercial diving supervisor’s licence.
Knowing first-hand the importance of a never-say-die attitude, she hopes to inspire the youth by showing them that anything is possible.
“My advice to the youth out there is that the sky is not the limit - you are your own limit. If you want it, you will get it. It may not be easy, but it’s certainly attainable,” she added.