The Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) of South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), Ms. Poppy Khoza, has been re-appointed to serve on the same role starting from December 1, 2023 to November 30 2028. By this appointment, Ms. Khoza will be serving a third 5-year term in this position.
The reappointment of Ms. Khoza, who has made commendable contributions to the aviation industry in South African and Africa, will ensure continuity in the efforts to improve civil aviation in the region. Her reappointment will also make her more visible as an outstanding inspiration for women in aviation in Africa.
According to the SACAA, “This appointment was approved by the South African Government Cabinet on 20 November 2023, as it ensures government’s continued commitment towards a stable, robust and efficient civil aviation sector.”
Ms. Khoza carries extensive experience and knowledge in aviation since being first appointed to this pivotal role in an acting capacity in October 2012 and then on a 5-year fixed term basis from December 2013.
Ms. Khoza is the first black female DCA in South Africa, and “the first woman globally to be elected to preside over the General Assembly at the ICAO’s 41st Assembly Session in 2022.”
Some of the SACAA achievements under Ms. Khoza’s tenure at the Authority The SACAA further revealed that Ms. Khoza made notable achievements at the helm of SACAA, including ten clean audits within eleven years, and the most recent audit 2023 “attracting ZERO findings.”
She also implemented all of the SACAA’s targets eight years in a row, while leading SACAA’s brilliant performance in “several independent
international audits on aviation safety and security, elevating South Africa as
the top-ranking country in the Continent and ranking in the top 20 globally.” South Africa is the first country in the Continent to surpass the 90% mark in
the safety audits, SACAA also revealed.
Ms. Khoza also led the SACAA to retain the Category 1 Status of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessment concluded in 2022, which allows South Africa’s operators operate direct flights to the US with their own aircraft. She also achievements in aviation cargo security system with European counterparts and the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Another significant attainment for Ms. Khoza is achieving “51% competent female employees and 50% female Executives,” the SACAA also stated.
While congratulating Ms. Khoza, the SACAA Board Chairperson, Mr. Ernest Khosa, remarked that “The stability we see at SACAA is testament to her great leadership which has equally received positive cheers from staff, the aviation industry, and international counterparts, when we first made this announcement on 20 November 2023.”
“Ms Khoza is an aviation trailblazer who is internationally recognised and
supported. It is through her work that our South African aviation sector continues to hold a critical voice on global aviation dialogues. With this, I look forward to what 2024 will offer and towards an even more successful five-year cycle for the SACAA.”
Ms. Khoza said: “I am deeply honoured and grateful for this opportunity to again serve as the Director of Civil Aviation. It is an exciting time for me personally and I pledge my commitment once again to drive positive change and promoting safety, efficiency, gender equality and innovation in our skies.
She thanked the Minister of Transport, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga and the Deputy Minister, Mr. Lisa Mangcu “for their support and leadership,” as she also expressed appreciation to the Department of Transport, the Board of Directors, the SACAA employees and the aviation industry “for their immense support.”
While pledging to continue partnership with industry stakeholders to enhance safety and efficiency, Ms. Khoza said, “Together with the Team of highly competent professionals, we remain committed in fostering collaboration, cooperation and dedicate ourselves to preserving safety and security within this sector.”
Ms. Khoza has shown support for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a project of the African Union (AU) to establish liberalization of air transport in Africa, of which the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) is the Executing Agency (EA). SAATM aims to establish 5th freedom markets in all parts of Africa resulting in lower airfares, reduced flight time between African cities and increased availability of flights creating seamless interconnectivity in Africa. And Ms. Khoza is expected to drive partnerships and cooperation along this line.
