The inaugural General Aviation Indaba 2024, a pivotal industry event hosted by the Flying Jurist took place on 3 July 2024, at Wonderboom National Airport. This significant gathering, convened and hosted by Angelo Dube, CEO of the Flying Jurist, who is a pilot and a professor, attracted aviation professionals, policymakers, entrepreneurs, the regulator, government departments and enthusiasts to discuss critical issues and advancements in the sector. Participants came from across South Africa, including neighbouring Lesotho and Botswana.
Aviation law specialist Adv. Anne-Lize Lourens delivered a keynote address on transforming and developing the general aviation sector in South Africa, focusing on the need for targeted efforts to make the industry more inclusive, especially for women.
Adv Anne-Lize Lourens, Keynote Address
The Indaba featured a diverse range of presentations and panel discussions. Neil de Lange of the South African Civil Aviation Authority emphasized the importance of developing a safety culture within general aviation and outlined the efforts that the regulator has taken to ensure safe skies across South Africa. Caroline Ungersbock of the Rural Aerodrome Company highlighted the barriers to entrepreneurship, drawing from her efforts to revive an old aerodrome in the quaint town of Victoria West. Dr MT MaseTshaba, Acting Dean of UNISA’s College of Economic and Management Sciences, outlined UNISA’s current and forthcoming aviation programs.
Panelists posing for a picture after the Indaba
Commercial Pilot Tumi Katisi shared insights on overcoming challenges to reach the cockpit, while Ms Masentle Masiane from the 99s addressed the hurdles young girls face in aviation and the role of mentorship in overcoming these barriers. Mr Inathi Dyonashe, a qualified cabin crew member and current student pilot, discussed alternative pathways into the aviation industry.
Stephanus Mannie from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development spoke on building the capacity of drone operators and using drones in disaster situations. Clinton Heinmann, Deputy Director General in the same department, emphasized future collaborations between the government and
Neil de Lange of the South African Civil Aviation Authority with Flying Jurist CEO Angelo Dube
Michael Dehn, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, expressed gratitude for the collaboration between Aero South Africa and Flying Jurist, and the involvement of academia, noting the positive impact of the Indaba on the Aero South Africa expo experience.
For the 2024 Indaba, Flying Jurist partnered with AERO South Africa and the University of South Africa (UNISA). The General Aviation Indaba 2025 is scheduled for 19 August 2025 at a venue yet to be announced in Johannesburg. This upcoming event aims to continue the critical discussions and foster further advancements in the aviation sector and is billed to be much bigger than its inaugural version. Once the registration process opens, attendees are urged to register early before all seats are taken. Information on how to register will be shared here on this website and on the various Flying Jurist platforms, including social media platforms.
