Central SA
First female police chief helicopter pilot in Free State wins national award─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 08:11 Mon, 07 Oct 2024
“This is an example of the pockets of excellence existing within the SAPS.”
The first female chief helicopter pilot attached to the South African Police Service (SAPS) Airwing in the Free State, has brought pride to the province by being named the overall winner in the aviation category at the prestigious Forty Under 40 Awards.
This ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Kempton Park this past weekend celebrated outstanding young achievers across various industries. The minister of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, delivered the keynote address at the event.
The first female chief helicopter pilot attached to the SAPS Airwing in the Free State, Lt Col Kgothatso Khunou (left). Photo: SAPS
SAPS media liaison, Amanda van Wyk, shared that Lt Col Kgothatso Khunou was nominated alongside Captain Zeldah Ntuli, a fixed-wing pilot based at Wonderboom Airport. Khunou, who hails from Rustenburg, often reflects on her humble beginnings in what she describes as the “dusty streets of Rustenburg” and proudly refers to herself as a “village girl”.
Lt Col Kgothatso Khunou. Photo: SAPS
Interestingly, Khunou’s aviation career came to her unexpectedly. As a teenager, she dreamt of a future in science and pursued a National Diploma in Biotechnology. However, when offered a scholarship to become a commercial helicopter pilot, Khunou saw it as an opportunity to conquer her fear of flying. She embraced the challenge, eventually joining the SAPS in 2014 as a junior pilot at the rank of warrant officer.
Today, Khunou holds a commercial pilot licence and is in her final year of obtaining a Diploma in Management (Aviation). Her daily duties involve providing air support to ground units during search operations for dangerous criminals and participating in search and rescue missions.
Police National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, congratulated Khunou for her remarkable achievement, stating: “We are immensely proud of both our pilots who were nominated in the aviation category for the Forty Under 40 Awards. This is an example of the pockets of excellence existing within the SAPS.”
