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A charity fishing competition, planned by Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of Mossel Bay in honour of Youth Month, is set to take place on 29 June 2019 with the aim of raising funds towards the purchase of sanitary pads to help underprivileged girls stay in school. The sanitary pad outreach programme is hosted by local non-profit organisation, the Call – People of Action, and all proceeds from the competition will go towards needy learners at Groot Brak Secondary School in Great Brak River.  

Port of Mossel Bay Port manager, Shadrack Tshikalange said the event was planned to coincide with the national commemoration of Youth Month. “As we remember the brave youth from the past, we must also do what we can to support the youth of today to help them overcome their challenges. Access to sanitary pads is a challenge for many underprivileged girls, often keeping them away from school. We call upon our community to support this initiative, which will offer comfort to girls in need,” he said.  

The Port of Mossel Bay is involved in many other youth-related initiatives including providing support to two of TNPA’s adopted high schools - Indwe High School and Hillcrest High School – for programmes that aim to improve performance in mathematics and science, which are needed for a number of mission critical careers in the ports and other industries. TNPA also works with three primary schools, Garden Route Primary, Isalathiso Primary and Imekhaya Primary, on its Mathematics and Science Primary School Project aimed at grade 4 to 7 learners, jointly hosted with SCIMAT Education and Disposals.

Tshikalange said that collaborative partnerships with stakeholders that endeavour to empower the youth is a pillar of TNPA’s CSI strategy. “Giving back to the communities in which we operate is fundamental to our organisation.  This is an area that can have incredible impact on the lives of local youth and their communities.”

Community initiatives like the fishing competition serve as a reminder that TNPA is working towards opening up the ports to local communities. Among other initiatives planned for the year, the port also recently announced its new-look Port Festival in Mossel Bay, called the Garden Route Port Festival, which is set to take place in November 2019.

The cost of an entry ticket for the fishing competition is R100 or participants can redeem a ticket by purchasing sanitary pads to the value of R100, with the receipt and products serving as the admission fee. Tickets can be redeemed or purchased from TNPA Security office at 1 Kloof Street during business hours. For more information, contact Sithembiso Soyaya on 083700 9907 or email sithembiso.soyaya@transnet.net

Issued by The Transnet National Ports Authority