WOMEN ON BOARD THE SAS MENDI

By Petty Officer Dennis Ndaba

The SAS Mendi has a total of seven women on board out of a crew of sixty-four. However, the Director Fleet Human Resources (DFHR) Rear Admiral [Junior Grade] (R Adm [JG]) Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala joined the ship for its maiden voyage. Since August is celebrated as the women's month back home (South Africa), I decided to dedicate an article to the women of the SAS Mendi.

Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Ruth Lotter, is a senior telecommunications rating aboard the ship. She has worked on board the strike craft SAS Makhanda, the mine hunter SAS Umzimkhulu and at the Naval Communication Centre at Silvermine. She decided that she needed a change of scenery and her husband, André, was very supportive when she joined the ship. She looks after the other young ladies on board by giving them support and advising them when they experience problems.

According to CPO Lotter, the women on board are motivated and inspired by R Adm (JG) Litchfield-Tshabalala's presence for the journey home. "In a person's career, it is an honour and a privilege to have an admiral on board, to speak to and share things, she is our mother!" CPO Lotter added. She said that all the women have bonded with the admiral. CPO Lotter thinks that all women should serve at sea sometime during their naval careers to gain more insight about the Navy.

	Leading Seaman (LS) Odette Reddy joined the Joint Project Team on 2 March 2004. After completing her task book and the walk-through sentry course, she was ready for Germany. She arrived with the rest of the ship's company in Germany on 7 May 2004. She said that she is homesick and cannot wait to get home.

The 15th of May 2004 was a special day for LS Reddy, as on that day she joined the SAS Mendi. It was also an emotional event, because her family was not there to witness her accomplishment. LS Reddy's previously worked on board the combat support ship SAS Drakensberg. She also served on the mine hunter SAS Umzimkhulu as a mine countermeasure operator. She finally opted for a transfer to the Catering Branch.

She enjoys working on the SAS Mendi, as the ship's company care for, motivate and uplift each other. She is also grateful to her husband, LS Thavin Reddy, for the support she receives from him to accomplish her goal of being one of the delivery crew of the SAS Mendi.

	LS Tshifhiwa Ramovha, a junior chef, enjoys life on the ship. She wants to work at sea, in the real navy. "It was my first time overseas. The experience was good, but the weather is a far cry from sunny South Africa," she added. She said that she does not want men to treat her different to other shipmates because of her small posture.

Talking to the soccer maestro, Able Seaman (AB) Seipati Tshabalala, an engine room attendant ('E-rat' or 'Stoker') in the Mechanical Department, is a different story. She oozes passion for her job and emphasized that she is the only female in the section. "My job is more challenging than office work. Engineering is for creative minds. I don't expect special treatment from the men, even if they sometimes feel sorry for me. I want to be where the action is and try to prove that I can do better," she said.

AB Tshabalala said that although this is her first experience at sea, it is still early days. She wants to do more travelling and see more places. "Being in the SA Navy is not just a job, it is an adventure!"

	All the women on board the SAS Mendi.

SAS Mendi's position on 29 August 2004.