4 EC woman commands navy mine-sweeper News
February 18, 2016 Mthatha Express
CARA-LEE SCHEUN WHEN she saw the sea for the first time at the age of 18, she decided right there and there that she wanted to explore the world from a ship. And 20 years later, Commander Zimasa Mabela (38), who was born in the Eastern Cape, is in charge of South African Navy mine-sweeper the SAS Umhloti. This week the vessel is in Nelson Mandela Bay with a host of other military vehicles which will take part in military manoeuvres as part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Armed Forces
Commander Zimasa Mabela (left) gives commands to lieutenant Omphile Letlape on the SAS Umhloti. Mabela, who was born in Mount Fletcher, became commander of this SA Navy mine-sweeper last year. PHOTO: WERNER HILLS
‘This is my first visit to Port Elizabeth as commander, and to bring the ship into the province of my birth is a big honour.’ - CDR. ZIMASA MABELA
‘Help make me the Face of SA ’ BUNTU GOTYWA WHILE many beauty queens dream of using beauty pageants to advance careers that will see them live the life of glitz and glamour, Abulele Dlungele is not a regular model who only thinks of such things. The 15-year-old from Slovo Park in Mthatha hopes to use the platform given to beauty queens to stimulate a positive attitude among the youth. The bubbly teen is the reigning Miss Eastern Cape Teen Junior, Abulele Dlungele needs votes to become the Face of SA and make a difference in her community. PHOTO:
SUPPLIED
having been crowned in December last year. Not only is she focusing on making a name for herself in beauty pageants, she also excels at school and has yet to decide between a career in microbiology, mining engineering or medicine. The Holy Cross Education Centre grade 11 pupil is currently in the running for the 2016 Face of South Africa. Face of South Africa was originally part of the Miss and Mr SA teen competition and has since been separated, but still runs side by side with it. Abulele is in the junior division of the competition and requires votes to make it as the Face of South Africa. She automatically entered the Face of South Africa after entering Miss SA teen juniors. She said she really cherishes the prospect of being crowned at the pageant and being the Face of SA. “I believe I am part of the change, and I don’t want to use
Week. Mabela, who is originally from Mount Frere, joined the navy in 1999 and was appointed commander of the mine-sweeper in August last year. “It is difficult to juggle the responsibilities of being a commander and mother, so it is important to have a very good support structure available for both roles,” Mabela said. She admitted that it was stressful to take a vessel such as the Umhloti into a harbour, but the tension was part of the joy. “The health and safety of my crew are the most important when I am commander. Thereafter comes the safety of the ship,” she said. “Because nothing – sailing into or out of a harbour – is ever smooth sailing. It requires patience and alert navigators. But as soon as the vessel is docked it feels as if I have won a war.” Mabela does not stand behind the wheel herself, but every turn and movement of the ship happens on her command. Her arrival in Port Elizabeth was a big moment for her. “This is my first visit to Port Elizabeth as commander, and to bring the ship into the province of my birth is a big honour,” she said.
Abulele Ndlungele, in red, was crowned Miss Eastern Cape Teen in East London in December. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
modelling just because I can model but to make a change in the community,” she said. “I want to be an example to the youth. “I don’t wish to see the youth being entitled to being cool but I want to inspire them to have a positive energy and just be themselves.” She said current Miss Teen World Katlego Ncala was one of the people she took inspiration from and hoped to emulate her while making a change with the duties that came with pageant success. “She is one of the people who made me focus more on modelling and actually push myself to enter more competitions. “I am not only doing this for myself. There are a lot of people who support me and I want to also do it for my community,” she said. To help make Abulele Dlungele the Face of South Africa, SMS “JT02” to 47018. The SMS will cost you R2.
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