Cape Town — As South Africa observes Women’s Month, a key statistic highlights the gender disparity in the aviation sector: only 5,067 out of 25,830 licensed aviation professionals in the country are female, making up about 20% of the workforce.
As reported by EWN, Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa has called for increased efforts to address this gap and promote gender equality in the industry.
Speaking at the National Aviation Gender Summit in Durban, Hlengwa stressed the need for strategic planning to achieve gender parity. Although female participation in aviation is increasing, with the Transport Ministry aiming for 50% female representation by 2030 — there is still a lot more work to be done.
ACSA’s CEO, Mpumi Mpofu, addressed the National Aviation Gender Summit 2024 hosted by @OfficialSACAA. She articulated the need to “eradicate the triple yoke of oppression for women (race, gender, and class) to meet employment equity targets.” Mpofu further outlined how Airports… pic.twitter.com/q4CWMkgX2j
— Airports Company SA (@Airports_ZA) August 21, 2024
“It is important that we remain accountable to ensure that we achieve our long-term vision for gender equality in aviation. Empowering women has a significant ripple effect, not only within our organisations, which are key drivers of economic growth and critical components of international trade and tourism, but also at the grassroots level, impacting the very fabric of our society,” the Minister stated.
Additionally, he pointed out that although there has been some progress, such as the increase in female participation in technical roles, substantial work remains to be done. The Transport Ministry has set a target of achieving 50% female representation in aviation by 2030.
According to ENCA, Poppy Khoza from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) highlighted the efforts under way to improve gender equality. She noted that women now constitute 52% of SACAA’s workforce. While this represents progress, Khoza acknowledged that more work is necessary to achieve broader gender parity across the aviation sector.
“We are not where we want to be. When I started, we were covering 4% of women with technical skills and competence or women licence holders, for different fields, whether it’s finance or engineering We are now in 2024 and its about 12%. We think that our journey towards ensuring that we close this gap is in full force,” said Khoza.
The audience participated in an engagement that was facilitated by the insightful broadcaster and journalist, Ms. Tšepiso Makwetla, and explored the opportunities and strategies to foster gender equality and ways of closing the gender balance gap in SA over the next six years. pic.twitter.com/QkbTzzEvYm
— SA Civil Aviation Authority – SACAA (@OfficialSACAA) August 21, 2024
SA News reports that Hlengwa further discussed the broader context of female employment in Africa, noting that over 60% of women on the continent work in the informal sector. He referenced a concerning statistic that it will take 102 years to close the gender gap in Sub-Saharan Africa at the current rate of progress.
“At the current rate of progress, it will take 102 years to close the gender gap in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a statistic that should awaken our fires to act I think that we often find acting a mammoth task, but it begins with all of us implementing change in our immediate environments, every day wasted is a day added to 102 years.”
The Deputy Minister commended ongoing initiatives, including SACAA’s bursaries, mentorship programmes and career awareness campaigns, which aim to encourage a new generation of aviation professionals, particularly from previously disadvantaged communities.
“Proactive measures are crucial in reshaping a sector that has traditionally been dominated by men. The dedication to creating opportunities and fostering a more inclusive environment is commendable and marks a significant step forward.
Ms. Poppy Khoza, Director of Civil Aviation, kicks off the National Aviation Gender Summit (NAGS) 2024 with a powerful message: ‘For us at the SACAA, this event is essential to our mission of fostering a diverse and dynamic aviation sector.’ pic.twitter.com/NXI3hL7oSO
— SA Civil Aviation Authority – SACAA (@OfficialSACAA) August 21, 2024
“Across the broader transport sector, encompassing taxis, railways, and bus operations – aviation stands out amongst the leading modes of transport in its commitment to gender diversity and inclusion,”
Hlengwa concluded by calling for a concerted effort to bridge the gap between policy and practice. “It is crucial that we move from having exemplary laws on paper to realising tangible results on the ground. To this end, we will work tirelessly to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that our aviation sector not only meets but exceeds expectations in all areas and set mandates. Even on matters of diversity and inclusion, I pledge my support in every way that matters,” he said.
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Compiled by Lauren Petersen
