Sibongile Sambo: A female pioneer in Africa’s Aviation Industry

Among female entrepreneurs in Africa, the story of Sibongile Sambo, founder and CEO of SRS Aviation Ltd, stands out as a constant proof to women that a successful business can emerge from unsavoury experience. Her company is the first 100% black and female-owned aviation services company in South Africa.

In recognition of her daring moves in business, Sibongile has received many awards including BWA’s Regional Business Women of the year award for the Star-up category in 2006, BIBA (Black Woman in Business Awards) in 2006 and the Impumelelo Top Female Entrepreneur of the year in the same year. She was also a finalist at the Cosmopolitan Movers of the Year 2007. Recently, she was featured on the World Banks report “Doing Business Women in Africa”, and received the 2008 BMF (Black Management Forum) Presidential Award in the Category of Youth Business Leadership. She has also been named a Leader of Tomorrow by Fortune Magazine.

A most interesting part of her story, which is public knowledge, is that she applied as flight attendant with the South African Airways but was turned down because she did not measure up to the minimum height requirement.

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Afterwards, she ventured into business selling her car, taking a loan from her aunt and also using her mother’s pension money as startup capital. Sambo officially started SRS (Sibongile Rejoice Sambo) Aviation, the first aviation company in Africa set up by a woman in 2004. At the outset, she initially focused on brokering contracts for aviation services, and later in 2004, Sambo had the SRS commissioned with the first flight for the South African government, a cargo transport deal which was awarded as a joint venture between SRS aviation and a competing firm.

There was a later switch into private aviation services, before the company added VIP charter flights, tourist charters and helicopter services to its offerings. The company now also provides private jet owners with maintenance, sales and fleet management services. Sibongile intends to expand the services all over Africa.

Sambo pushed through the initial difficulties and secured an Air Operating Certificate by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), allowing it to operate commercial flying activities. The company is also fulfilling Sambo’s dreams of getting more females into the skies, and has helped a number of women get their private pilot licenses.

EDITOR’S NOTE: You may read the rest of the profile on page 35 of our 50 Most Influential Women in Business edition. Download it by following this link.