1. Excellence, your reputation precedes you, and you need no introduction. However, could you please introduce yourself in your own words to our readers?
Thank you for the kind words. I am a medical Doctor, and a mother of 4 girls. I am an activist, a freedom fighter who has dedicated much her life to the struggle for freedom, in South Africa and development of our continent.
I have served my country (South Africa) as a Member of Parliament. I also served as a Minister in several ministerial portfolios, Health, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Monitoring and Evaluation, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as well as Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
From 2012 until 2017, I served as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
2. As a former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, what actions did you take to promote the inclusion of African women in the maritime industry?
During my tenure as Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the empowerment and inclusion of women in all areas of human endeavor was a priority, including the maritime industry.
To promote the women participation in the maritime industry we found WIMAFRICA.
The 2050 Africa’s Integrated Matine Strategy (AIM 2050) was launched and Annex C: Plan of Action for Operationalization promotes increase of women’s participation and integration. To ensure that women are recognised and they not just beneficiaries.
Launched the Decade of Seas and Oceans – 2015-2025 “African Decade of Seas and Oceans” for action and commitment to maritime development.
3. What motivated you to found WIMAFRICA, and what was your initial goal with this association?
The African continent is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Antarctica Ocean, Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. – its coastline stret-ches over 30,000km. 90% of imports and exports on the African continent are carried through the maritime highways, but we don’t own any of the vessels and the majority seafarers on those vessels are not Africans.
The ocean is a big economic frontier. Africans, especially women were not participating in the ocean’s economy.
It is important that women are organized and also share information amongst themselves and other countries. We then formed WIMAFRICA, which was part of the motivation that women should have their organization.
The goal was to ensure that wo-men understand the oceans economy and participate in it. That was the reason we organized the trip to Norway, because Norway ‘s economy is largely based on the oceans, since the time of the Vikings. We wanted them to see what is possible in the ocean.
These are the areas where wo-men could participate, in various areas:
Transport – As captains, as crew, as pilots, and as ship owners. Women can own, lead, and operate logistics and insurance companies that service ships and wider maritime industry.
Tourism (Coastal and Floating) – They can own/ manage resorts and work in the cruise ships. Women can do sailing and diving.
Manufacture – Women should participate in boat and vessel manufacturing. They should not only manu- facture them but also own them.
Marine Science – Women can be marine biologists, oceanographers, and environmental scientist.
Oil, gas and deep sea-mining – Women’s participation specifically in oil and gas and deep sea-mining.
Energy – Renewable energy – Women can be develo- pers and owners of marine renewable energy projects.
Creative industry in the ships – Women can be musicians, DJ’s even photographers
Women can play a leading role in supplying perishable goods, required by ships, turning port-side provisioning into powerful platform for women’s economic empowerment.
So, the motivation to support the founding of WIMAFRICA came from the reality that African women remained largely excluded from meaningful participation in the maritime industry, while Africa’s maritime and blue economy sectors hold immense potential for economic growth and integration.
4. You are a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment in Africa. In your opinion, what are the most pressing challenges to ensuring equitable participation of women in strategic sectors such as the blue economy?
Skills gap and Training Barriers – Women often face limited access to education, skills training. Technical training in maritime engineering, aquaculture, and ocean sciences is often male-dominated, lea-ving women excluded from high-value roles.
Cultural and social norms – Gender stereotypesrestrict women to informal, and low-income roles (e.g. fish processing) rather than lea- dership or innovation positions.
Policy and Representation Deficit – Women are underrepresented in decision-making bodies that govern marine resources,…
Read the full interview on pages 9 to 16 of Blue Women Africa Magazine : https://www.bluewomenafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Blue-Women-Africa-Magazine-English.pdf
