Changing the World One Flight at a Time

Women in African Air Transport

Johannesburg, South Africa, 9 November 2015

Presented by Ms. Zuks Ramasia GM: Operations, South African Airways

"Where did all this begin!"On the 9th of August 1956 the Federation of South African Women (FASW). led a march of about 20,000 to the Union Buildings

These women refused to be silenced by unjust laws.

Their fight was for a non-sexist and non-racial South Africa.

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Since 1994, 9 August is celebrated as National Women's Day in South Africa, and is an annual public holiday. 

Women in African Air TransportMy Personal Journey

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• My Career in aviation started in the airline as a front line staff, Flight attendant

• I soon realised, this industry is a male-dominated environment, opportunities for women in management echelons have been rather limited

• South African (and more broadly continental Africa) women, as with many other parts in the world remain burdened by gender bias, unequal education lack of opportunities and unemployment.

• Whilst gender discrimination has been removed from our constitution, in many sectors such as aviation the playing field still favours men.

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• Reality is 51.4% of women make up South Africa’s population of more than 50. million.

• The aviation industry presents a plethora of career opportunities and women possess the passion, aptitude and dedication for these roles

• Women emancipation has always been a subject close to my heart, therefore a collective stand like the women of 1956 women is still required so that women empowerment should stop being a talking point

Women in African Air TransportMy Perspective on Women on the Industry

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While we have seen some progress of women being empowered in management especially in the customer-facing line, the traditionally more male-oriented areas such as: Flight Operations, Women Pilots, Technicians, Engineering and Maintenance fields are still a far cry from representing the Country demographics

We need more partnership with major airline manufacturers our supplier and implemented many corporate social responsibility programmes, targeting the youth and women.

Women in African Air TransportMy Perspective on Women on the Industry

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• SAA Cadet Pilot Academy has produced a handful of women pilots

• The industry can do more to open and present more mechanisms for participation and that ladies & gentlemen should be at our minds, every day.

• Our contribution as an industry should be united, consistent and persevered towards creating awareness, career and skills development at all levels of academia – starting by shaping the young minds at school.

Women in African Air TransportMy Perspective on Women on the Industry

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Let us recognise and celebrate ourselves as we areWe are a diverse nation, and a diverse continent. Our diversity should unite us , as we women we

have the power to bring disparate communities together in many respects and we should never loose sight of that.

As an industry let us recognise that diversity is a uniting factor and stand together to promote awareness, to develop, to nurture, to celebrate and to empower women in our industry.

Africa should be the catalyst and women should be the symbol of empowerment.

Women in African Air TransportMy Perspective on Women on the Industry

THANK YOU