Sibongile Sambo is the Founder and Managing Director of SRS (Sibongile Rejoice Sambo) Aviation – the first black female owned aviation company in South Africa. SRS offers charters in a range of categories including: VIP charter, air cargo, tourist transfers or charter, game count and capture, fire-fighting, heli-camping, medical evacuation, aerial photography, film work, slinging or airlifting, powerline inspection and maintenance, and general air security services to clients.
Born in 1974 in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa, Sibongile Sambo’s interest in aviation started when she was a young girl. . Sambo had visions about planes and would imagine herself flying to different countries and meeting people. Her dream came true when the 2003 post-apartheid government passed the Black Economic Empowerment Act, which enables people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to enter and participate in economic life as entrepreneurs.
However, she had a challenge that could have prevented her from achieving her dream – she had no prior experience or capital to purchase an aircraft. Rather than go through the formal means for acquiring the capital, Sambo relied on her family to lend her the money to kick start her business. The small family loan from her mother and aunt enabled her to broker contracts between aviation services and those with air-transport needs.
Ultimately, with her impressive education history and work experience in human resources from various organisations like De Beers, City Power; Sambo started her airline company.
After the South African government invited aviation firms to bid on a contract for cargo transport, Sambo was on course for success. The contract was awarded as a joint venture between SRS and another firm. Although a collaborative project offered a golden opportunity to wade into the industry, the other firm soon withdrew, leaving Sambo to learn the contracting process on her own.
In June 2010, SRS first Aviation shop opened at SA airports and since then SRS has opened a chain of retail shops in South Africa airports. Her company also has an Air Operating Certificate by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), making her company the first black operational enterprise to be given full rights to undertake commercial flying activities.
Aside from being an entrepreneur, Sambo doubles as a Motivational Speaker. She mentors youngsters as well as business man and women in Africa. The ambitious and self driven entrepreneur has been able to generate job opportunities and empower women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.