Poppy Khoza returns as director for Civil Aviation Authority

Source: Ivan Shimko via Unsplash

"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," SACAA Board Chairperson Ernest Khosa said on Tuesday.

Her term in office is effective from 1 December 2023 until 30 November 2028. This will be her third term at the helm of the aviation regulator.

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 five-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.

Some of SACAA's achievements under Khoza’s tenure at the Authority include

• Achieving ten clean audits in a space of 11 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 on the continent and ranking in the top 20 globally. South Africa is the first country on 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 to 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.

This appointment was approved by Cabinet on 20 November 2023.

"As the SACAA Board, we see this as a vote of confidence for the exemplary leadership the DCA has demonstrated over the past 11 years being at the helm of the organisation. I would like to extend my message of support following this announcement from Cabinet.

"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," Khoza said.

Khoza said she is 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."