*South African Executive Career Appointments and Promotions!
Johannesburg – Cabinet has re-appointed Poppy Khoza to serve another five-year term at the helm of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (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,” SACAA revealed Tuesday.
“Her appointment is effective from 1 December 2023 until 30 November 2028.” This will be Khoza’s third term at the helm of the aviation regulator.
Commenting on her appointment, 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.
“I would also like to thank the Minister of Transport, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga, and the Deputy Minister, Mr. Lisa Mangcu for their support and leadership.
“I also thank the Department of Transport, the Board of Directors led by Mr Khosa, the employees of the SACAA and the aviation industry for their immense support.
She said together with the team of highly competent professionals, “we remain committed” to fostering collaboration, and cooperation and “dedicate ourselves” to preserving safety and security within this sector.
Khoza added: “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.”
Khoza will lead SACAA to a new chapter, after being re-appointed to serve another five-year term with the Regulator, until 30 November 2028.
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.
Outside of being the first black female DCA, Khoza was also 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 Khoza’s tenure at the Authority:
- Achieving ten (10) clean audits in a space of eleven years and the most recent audit (2022/23) attracting ZERO findings.
- Achieving 100% implementation of the entity’s targets, eight years in a row.
- Steering the SACAA to perform exceptionally through 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.
- Retaining the Category 1 Status of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessment which was concluded in 2022. This ranking which is highly recognised globally allows SA operators the freedom to operate in the US without restrictions imposed on them.
- Securing recognition agreements with our European counterparts and the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the aviation cargo security system.
- Transforming the organisation which now boasts 51% competent female employees and 50% female Executives.
gratulating Khoza on her re-appointment, the SACAA Board Chairperson, Ernest Khosa, remarked: “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 organisation.
I would like to extend my message of support following this announcement from Cabinet.”
Khosa added: “The stability we see at SACAA is a 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 in 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.”
Original article: Cabinet Re-Appoints Poppy Khoza To Lead SA Civil Aviation Authority For Another 5 Years – The Bulrushes
*Browse the latest executive and senior roles on NOWInSA/Executive Career Appointments and Promotions page.
