WATCH | From KwaMashu to the ocean’s depths: Twin sisters dive into history

For as long as they can remember, Ayanda and Anele Mthembu have done everything together.

The twins grew up in KwaMashu, Durban, sharing the same classroom, wearing similar clothes, enjoying the same sports and dreaming the same dreams for the future.

Today, based in Cape Town, that bond has taken them from township community swimming pools to the depths of the ocean as navy divers.

Anele said they had always been inseparable, sharing school, sports, and clothing choices.

Despite their school not having a pool, the twins learnt to swim at their local community pool through a programme run by the eThekwini municipality and Swimming South Africa.

“They train you and make sure that by the time the navy comes for recruitment, you’re ready.”

The twins matriculated at 16 and, at 17, did maritime studies in KwaZulu-Natal and then successfully applied to join the South African Navy in 2012.

But their twinship was tested shortly afterwards when Ayanda had to return home because of medical complications.

Anele continued with her training while her sister recovered. Ayanda rejoined the navy the following year after “the worst four months of my life”.

More than a decade later, both remain in the navy, although they serve in different divisions.

Anele works at the navy diving school in Simon’s Town as a diving facilitator, specialising in explosives, and Ayanda serves in the maritime reaction squadron and operational diving division.

Their careers have placed them in a traditionally male-dominated environment — Anele said there are fewer than 20 female divers in the navy.

“To be honest with you, we do not have any challenges [as women]. If you are disciplined, you will never feel that you are being abused or restricted. Everything is equal,” she said.

Among their proudest moments was a cargo-ship salvage operation that lasted about four weeks and required extensive planning and careful execution.