Women drone pilots: opportunities and hope for a transformed industry

On the first day of August 2025, as South Africa celebrated women and their achievements,  Inhlanyelo Hub NPC welcomed the third cohort of young women into its Drone Divas Programme. On the same day, the success of three newly qualified drone pilots from the second cohort was also celebrated. As in previous years, the celebration of awarding the drone pilot licences went hand-in-hand with pinning wings to their jackets.

The Inhlanyelo Hub Drone Industry Business Start-up Programme, known as the Drone Divas Programme, gives priority to registered Unisa students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Funded through the Department of Higher Education and Training’s University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), the programme has delivered 29 women drone pilots to date – seven of whom hold the advanced Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rating.

Ultimately, the programme seeks to develop a generation of women entrepreneurs in the fast-growing drone industry, which offers limitless opportunities. In its first year, the programme received 24 applications. In the second year, this number rose to 292, and for the third cohort, 1 624 applications were submitted, confirming the growing interest in the industry.

Kholeka Ndlangamandla, guest speaker

Unlocking potential in a growing industry

Professor Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences and a member of the Inhlanyelo Hub Board, welcomed attendees to the launch. She reflected on women's strength, tenacity, and intelligence and reminded the audience of the extraordinary potential unlocked when women are empowered to lead, create, and contribute fully.

Following her welcome, keynote speaker Kholeka Ndlangamandla, a pioneering commercial pilot, chief flight instructor, and BVLOS-certified drone operator, shared her story. She recalled seeing an aircraft fly overhead while visiting her grandmother and being intrigued by her grandmother’s explanation that it was a “flying machine” with people inside. This encounter inspired her to pursue her dream of joining the aviation industry. She also shared forecasts for the South African drone industry and highlighted the enormous potential of drone technology in fields such as urban planning, surveillance, and agriculture.

Newly qualified women drone pilots

Dr Tapiwa Muzata, Chief Operations Officer of Inhlanyelo Hub NPC, reminded attendees of the first group of Drone Divas to join from Cape Town in 2024. He shared the biographies of three individuals, recognising their accomplishments. The success of Lazola Jack, Hanlie van Niekerk, and Thobili Mphili was celebrated and served as motivation for the new cohort.

Lazola Jack, a Bachelor of Arts Honours graduate, offered an overview of her experience as a Drone Diva. She acknowledged the opportunity that Inhlanyelo Hub has provided her to become a more active participant in the aviation industry. She expressed her excitement at returning later in August for the Advanced BVLOS training, an extension of the Drone Divas Programme. 

Project leadership and vision

Professor Annemarie Davis, project leader for the UCDP-funded project on Entrepreneurship Development and New Venture Creation for Unisa students, explained that the remote pilot certification is only the first step. The programme's long-term goal is to create opportunities for women-owned businesses in the drone industry.

As testimony to this, Happiness Godora, one of the first participants in the Drone Divas Programme in 2023, addressed the audience. She shared information about her newly established business, Edu-Drones and STEM Events, which is dedicated to transforming how girls and underrepresented youth access and engage with STEM through the exciting world of drone technology. Godora urged the new pilots to lead, educate, and inspire future generations, calling the project a movement for equity and innovation, bound by a common goal to make STEM accessibility about potential rather than privilege. She closed with the message: “When women fly, generations rise!”

Partnerships Driving Change

Recognising the value of collaboration, Sam Twala, CEO of Ntsu Aviation Solutions, provided an insightful overview of his company's contributions to the drone industry and highlighted the benefits of partnering with Inhlanyelo Hub. The third cohort will now also receive training as systems maintenance technicians and in specific applications using DJI drones.  

Finally, Professor Raphael Mpofu, CEO of Inhlanyelo Hub NPC, closed the event with a congratulatory message and by giving the new candidates their ‘flying orders’.

Click here for more information on Inhlanyelo Hub and its programmes.

* Submitted by Inhlanyelo Hub NPC