Sibongile Sambo

When South African Airways told Sibongile Sambo she was too short to be a flight attendant, she didn't let that 'no' break her spirit. Instead, this young woman from Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga in South Africa decided to reach for something even bigger.

She did not go into her dream empty-handed; she had her bachelor's degree from the College of Zululand, and later added a master's in aviation technology and innovation. But it was her bold spirit that really made the difference.

Back in 2004, without any experience in aviation, she took a leap of faith and started SRS Aviation. Instead of knocking on bank doors for money, she turned to the people who believed in her most - her mother and aunt, who helped fund her dream at the initial stage. By 2006, all her hard work paid off when SRS Aviation got its Air Operating Certificate, making history as South Africa's first Black-owned aviation company with full commercial flight rights.

These days, her Johannesburg-based crews fly all around the world from the United States to Germany. You might find them running a simple tourist charter for $1,000 or flying a head of state across continents for $200,000. She said, remembering how challenging it was to break into aviation, that it was difficult just "getting to learn the language" of this male-dominated industry.[1]

What makes Sibongile special isn't just her success - it's how she uses it to help others. She's already helped three women get their private pilot licenses, and they're now working full-time with her company. As she puts it, "I'm where I am today because somebody invested in me. It's my opportunity now to invest in other people."[1]

And that does not seem to be the end of her dream! With African aviation growing rapidly with Ethiopian Airlines running their first all-female crew flight - Sibongile is planning to expand her helicopter services across the Continent. She smiles when she says, "What I'm proud of about our company is that we have managed to penetrate the male-dominated industry. Aviation is growing in Africa. We are going to grow with the growth in Africa."[1] A real-life example of ‘you have the choice of either eating or spitting from the plate dished for you’.

Sibongile’s journey shows perseverance showing other African women that the sky isn't the limit - it's their playground.

References

[1] Sambo, Sibongile. "Sibongile Sambo: Pioneering African Aviation." CNN, 3 Feb. 2016, https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/sibongile-sambo-srs-aviation-feat/index.html

[2] SRS Aviation website Link: http://www.srsaviation.co.za

~Maryam J-K Gadzama, Chief Editor 24/25 Committee