Maritime students get to know Parliament’s ropes
TWO Kwazulu-natal maritime students who are accustomed to changing tides and the roar of the ocean did not feel out of their depth while sitting in Parliament during the recent State of the Nation address.
Durban University of Technology students Ayanda Miya, 21, and Mluleki Khwela, 23, were President Cyril Ramaphosa’s invited guests and they loved the opportunity.
They got to see first-hand how the usually turbulent team of EFF MPS had transformed into a placid lot and the only roars rising out of this sitting of Parliament were approvals for Ramaphosa’s utterances.
Ramaphosa had been looking for students who were doing maritime studies, according to presidential spokesperson Thakane Khambe; that’s how Miya of Ngwelezane in Empangeni and Umbumbulu’s Khwela got reeled in.
Miya said rubbing shoulders with the president and attending a sitting of Parliament had been a surreal occasion.
“I was humbled by the Agulhas in Port Elizabeth. Inset is Mluleki Khwela. experience and felt empowered. I’m grateful for the opportunity because not everyone gets to stand next to the president of South Africa,” said Miya.
The usually shy Khwela also appreciated the privilege of interacting with Ramaphosa.
“It was a priceless and remarkable experience. It reminded me of how anxious and excited I felt when I first set foot on board at the SA Agulhas, last year,” said Khwela.
Both Khwela and Miya completed their maritime studies at DUT last year and were subsequently roped into the South African Maritime Training Academy (an affiliate of the South African Maritime Authority) as apprentices.
As part of their learning at DUT, the two students got their first sea outing on board the SA Agulhas, a cargo vessel.
The duo have had many sailing experiences since that maiden voyage and were in Port Elizabeth on another expedition when they spoke to Sunday Tribune this week.
Khwela, a former Sibusisiwe Comprehensive Technical High School pupil, hopes to pursue a full-time career with the SA Maritime Safety Authority. While in school, he decided he wanted a career that required maths and science, but not engineering or medicine, and fell in love with maritime affairs.
Miya, a former Empangeni High pupil, was grateful for the opportunities that had come her way while at the academy.