Hlubi Mzamo, new port manager of the Port of Richards Bay, did not expect to find himself at the helm of the port with the largest cargo volumes in South Africa when, he joined the National Ports Authority (NPA), as marine operations manager in Cape Town, 18 months ago.
Mzamo had just settled down with his family in the Mother City, when the NPA, landlord and regulator of South African ports, informed him that he was being promoted to an even more responsible position.
From sitting in his office, which overlooks the valuable Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), he modestly concedes that although the promotion was wholly unexpected, he is encouraged that his continuous hard work as marine operations manager was rewarded so quickly.
Mzamo joined the NPA in September 2001, and transformed marine operations in Cape Town into a profitable unit within 12 months.
To achieve this remarkable feat, the University of
Cape Town chemical engineering graduate tackled the whole business management process on the port’s operations side and worked to foster a business culture in the unit.
The new port manager believes his experience as project manager for Murray &
Roberts Contractors, as well as various business courses completed during the course of his career, prepared him for the business management component of port manager.
The port manager also regards the facilitation of economic empowerment in the port and the Richards Bay Coal Terminal as one of his duties.
Mzamo’s promotion to Richards Bay port manager follows the appointment of its former manager, Basil Ndlovu, to the Durban port manager. Nozipho Sithole, formerly the Durban port manager, has been promoted to general manager for Ports and Corporate Affairs at the NPA head office in Johannesburg.