SA 34: Breaking Barriers: Lt-Col Zanele Vayeka-Shabangu, the First Female Pilot to Lead a Presidential Flyover
Breaking Barriers: Lt-Col Zanele Vayeka-Shabangu, the First Female Pilot to Lead a Presidential Flyover Introduction In a historic moment that captured the nation’s attention, Lt-Col Zanele Vayeka-Shabangu etched her name into the annals of South African aviation history. On June 20, 2024, during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s second presidential inauguration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Lt-Col Vayeka-Shabangu took to the skies as the lead pilot in a spectacular helicopter flyover. Her journey from dreamer to trailblazer is nothing short of inspiring. From Dreams to Reality Zanele Nosisa Vayeke, born and raised in Temba, Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, harbored dreams of becoming a medical doctor. However, life had other plans for her. While her dream of donning a white coat may not have materialized, fate steered her toward the skies. Lt-Col Vayeka-Shabangu’s passion for aviation led her to pursue a different path—one that would eventually make he...