Captain Rufus Lekala, Chief Harbour Master at Transnet National Ports Authority, has graduated with a Master of Commerce in Maritime Studies degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal after four years of study.
Image: Sethu Dlamini
Captain Rufus Lekala, Chief Harbour Master at Transnet National Ports Authority, has graduated with a Master of Commerce in Maritime Studies degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal after four years of study.
Lekala’s journey began as a taxi driver in Mamelodi, Pretoria, before joining Transnet as a Tug Master in the Port of Cape Town. He later became a Marine Pilot in the Port of Saldanha Bay.
In 2022, he became the first Black Harbour Master at the Port of East London. He later served in the same role in Cape Town and Durban before being appointed Chief Harbour Master at TNPA in 2021. He currently serves as Acting Managing Executive at TNPA, overseeing safe navigation, port efficiency and regulatory compliance.
His dissertation, titled Assessing the Impact of Increased Container Vessel Size for Durban Container Terminal, examined whether the Port of Durban’s infrastructure, equipment and operational systems are prepared to handle larger vessels efficiently.
The research comes as the Port of Durban was recently ranked among the lowest-performing ports in the international Container Port Performance Index, despite being the busiest container port in the southern hemisphere.
Lekala’s study found that while the Durban Container Terminal has made progress in accommodating larger ships, challenges remain in berth productivity, yard capacity, equipment availability and landside coordination.
Captain Rufus Lekala
Image: Sethu Dlamini
The research recommends targeted infrastructure upgrades, improved planning and scheduling systems, stronger collaboration among port stakeholders and continued investment in skills development to improve competitiveness and resilience.
Lekala said his passion for maritime studies is driven by the sector’s importance to South Africa’s economy, trade and regional integration.
“As a coastal country with major ports, our ability to manage maritime operations efficiently directly influences economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness,” he said.
He added that he hopes his research will contribute to improved port planning, safer marine operations and more efficient cargo flows across South African ports.
Lekala previously completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Studies in 2022 before pursuing his master’s degree.
Reflecting on the achievement, he described it as a commitment to lifelong learning and contributing meaningfully to the maritime industry.
IOL