Thousands of talented young South Africans are being grounded before they ever get a chance to fly, not because they lack ability, but because aviation training is too expensive. For many families in mining towns and rural communities, the cost of becoming a pilot or even starting with a private pilot licence puts aviation completely out of reach. When a dream costs hundreds of thousands of rand, talent alone is not enough.
This is especially unfair for young women. Aviation in South Africa is still male-dominated, and far too few Black women are entering the field. That means many girls never see themselves reflected in the cockpit, and many never get the chance to prove what they can do. If nothing changes, South Africa will keep losing capable future pilots, engineers and aviation professionals simply because they cannot afford the training.
We are asking the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Higher Education, TETA, SACAA and NSFAS to create and fund a dedicated aviation bursary programme for young South Africans, with a clear focus on women from rural and underserved communities. NSFAS already supports studies in other scarce and high-impact fields; aviation should be treated with the same seriousness because the country needs pilots and aviation skills.
The programme should include at least 50 bursaries a year for qualifying students, with support that covers training costs from entry level through to commercial qualifications where possible. It should be announced in the next funding cycle and built into the relevant departmental and sector plans so that this is not a one-off promise, but a real pathway into the industry.
If South Africa invests in these bursaries, it invests in transformation, jobs and a stronger aviation sector. It also tells girls in places like Welkom and other rural communities that their ambition is valid and their future is not limited by their postcode. I am not asking for a handout. I am asking for a chance to work for my wings.