Thobani Sithole Is a queer South African maritime professional who has gained recognition for advocating for LGBTQ+ visibility within the industry. He is an experienced Deck Officer at Oldendorff Carriers and has spent over a decade in shipboard operations. He holds an MSc in Maritime Affairs from the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden. Sithole is vocal about his identity and has publicly shares posts regarding Queer visibility in Maritime. He is the founder of AfricaPortMart, a social enterprise aimed at connecting the international maritime fleet with South Africa’s local artisan economy.

He hosts a podcast called Still Onboard and is active on LinkedIn and Instagram, where he shares insights into the “human element” of seafaring and logistics. His career path: from growing up in rural KwaZulu-Natal to becoming a highly qualified officer and researcher, makes him a significant role model for young, queer, Black South Africans in the maritime space.