The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) board has reappointed Ms. Poppy Khoza as Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) to serve another five-year term with the Regulator, which will be her third term at the helm of the aviation regulator.
The appointment according to SACAA “was approved by the South African Government Cabinet as it ensures government’s continued commitment towards a stable, robust and efficient civil aviation sector.”
Ms. Khoza has 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. Outside of being the first black female DCA, she was also the first woman globally to be elected to preside over the General Assembly at the ICAO’s 41st Assembly Session in 2022.
The SACAA Board Chairperson, Mr. Ernest Khosa, stated: “As the SACAA Board, we see this as a vote of confidence for the exemplary leadership the DCA has demonstrated over the past eleven years being at the helm of the organization. I would like to extend my message of support following this announcement from Cabinet. 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.”
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. We will also continue to partner with all industry stakeholders to enhancing operational efficiency and safety to ensure that it maintains the required international standards.”
Ms. Khoza was named winner of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s 2023 edition of the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards in the Inspirational Role Model category.