SAA is on Track with its Transformation After the First Black African Female Flight Deck Takes Off

South African Airways (SAA) is proud to make dreams come true, as today marks a significant day in the airline’s history. For the first time in the airline’s 88 years of existence, two black African females operated a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. The flight was commandeered by Captain Annabel Vundla and First Officer Refilwe Moreetsi, alongside their excellent cabin crew.

Captain Vundla told Sawubona magazine what being the first black female captain in SA meant to her, “it means that women who look like me can be anything they set their minds on. I am so blessed and truly proud of myself and my family for weathering the storm that the aviation industry is experiencing since Covid-19. I inspired young women when I became the first black woman to fly in the South African Air Force, and I will continue to bring aviation awareness to youth.”

Captain Vundla is SAA’s first Black African Female Captain, and First Officer Moreetsi is not only a seasoned and experienced pilot but also the first Black African Management Pilot as she is also responsible for Fatigue Risk Management at the airline.

As part of October 2022 Transport Month, SAA is honoured to operate this historic flight. SAA Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer says, “This is a milestone in the transformation of our national carrier. The airline continues to show leadership in transforming the aviation sector and overcoming inequalities in scarce skills and employment opportunities.”

SAA is a truly transformed airline with an ethnicity count of 63% Africans, 11% Coloureds, 10.5% Indians and 15.5% Whites.

“South Africans can feel proud of a national carrier that is truly represented of our diversity, and we celebrate that. SAA is a non-discriminatory, non-racial, equal opportunities employer with a strategic transformational role,” says SAA Executive for Human Resources, Mrs Mpho Letlape.