Cape Town — The navy has introduced a number of incentive schemes for both technical and combat personnel to curb the brain drain from its ranks, navy chief Vice-Admiral Refiloe Mudimu said yesterday.

Mudimu said during a media briefing at Simon’s Town to announce the change of command of one of the navy’s new frigates, the SAS Isandlwana, that while these schemes had had a positive effect on the rate of attrition from the navy, he was aware that scarce skills were in particular demand, both in SA and on the continent.

Mudimu hailed the appointment of Capt Bubele Mhlana, the first former Umkhonto we Sizwe operative to take command of a frigate in the SA Navy, as recognition of the “rebirth and re-emergence” of the navy which prior to 1994 had become aged and obsolete as a result of years of neglect, compounded by international isolation.

Mudimu said many former naval personnel had obtained employment both in local maritime and associated industries, and also in countries such as Nigeria where they worked in the oil industry.

“It is important to remember that while we as a navy will always view the loss of our members to external industries with concern, we also recognise that our training is of the best, and that through such training, we increase the skills base, not only of the organisation, but also of the country,” said Mudimu.

He said government’s commitments to the region, the continent and SA’s south-south co-operation would result in an increasing obligation falling on the shoulders of South African sea, air and land forces. “This will result in an ever-higher demand for competent people who are prepared to deploy for extended periods, and for visionary and committed leadership. The retention of scarce skills is not only important, but fundamental to the accomplishment of our strategic objectives,” said Mudimu.

He said the navy had an annual intake of 650 matriculants, who were trained as part of the navy’s military skills development programme at SAS Saldanha. Those trainees whose contracts were not extended were placed in employment elsewhere through the navy’s redeployment agency, which had links with maritime industries.

Former trainees had been placed in the South African Police Service, 22 had obtained employment as chefs at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, and others had found work in the cash-in-transit protection industry. He said gender transformation and gender mainstreaming had received particular attention, and a number of women had been appointed to key positions.

Two women were promoted to the rank of rear-admiral last year, with a number of others appointed in senior management and leadership positions.

Women were also represented on all strategic decision-making forums in the navy.

With acknowledgement to Chris van Gass and Business Day.