New CEO for SAMSA finally announced

APPOINTMENT: Captain Rufus Lekala

SOUTH AFRICA: After a protracted period without a permanent CEO, the South African Maritime Safety Authority’s head was finally announced at this week’s cabinet meeting as Captain Rufus Lekala.

He is no stranger to the maritime industry and has been a prominent figure within Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) having become the first black harbour master in the country and the youngest in the world to achieve this position in 2011.

Lekala, who also served as the Acting CEO of TNPA for a brief period, entered the maritime sector when he received a bursary to pursue a Diploma in Maritime Studies from Transnet after working as a taxi driver in Pretoria.

Despite his upward trajectory within TNPA, Lekala faced a period of suspension in around 2017. At the time, Richard Vallihu issued a statement confirming that he had been placed on precautionary suspension due to “alleged irregularities”.

Applications for the position to take over from the current Acting CEO, Tau Morw, closed in March this year. SAMSA has been without a permanent CEO since Tsietsi Mokhele vacated the position in 2016. Sobantu Tilayi, who stepped into the void at that time, was the longest serving Acting CEO – leading the authority for five years.   

The industry will be looking to Lekala to provide strategic leadership and his long history within the port system will be an advantage as he formulates the authority’s long term strategy and sustainability.

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