Advertisement in the Cape Town Gazette 4 July 1820: A public sale will be held on Saturday morning, the 5th instant at 11 o’clock in front of the old Admiral’s House, of household furniture, ….. also at the same time and place will be sold a slave women and her four children, she is 27 years of age and a good washerwomen. J Snell, Auctioneer.

Who are you, nameless, faceless lady? I encountered you in an advertisement in the Cape Gazette. The year was 1820 and you and your four children were advertised as goods for sale at an auction along with livestock and household furniture. No mention is given of your name, or the slave name that had been allocated to you, nor is there any mention of where you came from or how old your children were.

The only information that seemed pertinent to the auctioneer, J Snell, was that you were 27 years old and a good washerwoman. But I wonder about you. Did you know, on that day, that you and your children were going to be auctioned off, or were you just called away from your work and taken to the spot in front of the Old Admiral’s House when your number was called?

Was it a quick 5 minute transaction. Was it over before you even realised what was happening? And your children; were they sold to the same enslavers who bought you or were they sold separately? If they were sold separately, did they cry to come with you or did they also simply not realise what was happening.

Would you have tried to protest, and if you did, were you whipped and forced away. If your children were sold off separately to you, did you ever see each other again? And if you did not, what were the nightmares that plagued you during the lonely night hours of the night. Did you have more children after this, and if you did, did you form a comfortable psychological barrier from them, knowing that they too might be taken from you on any day, at any time.

I imagine that at night, you awoke from your sleep only to be haunted by their cries. Maybe sometimes you woke up in the morning expecting them to be there and then reality would dawn and you would realise that you were in a different environment and they were gone. If you felt outrage at what had happened, did you keep it to yourself, living as you were in a society where what was happening to you was quite acceptable. Was it acceptable to YOU? Did you hate the people who did this to you or was your sense of self so diminished that you accepted any abuse meted out to you?

And sometimes, when even your acceptance got the better of you and you felt that painful yearning that any mother feels when she is parted from her children, no matter whether those children were born of love or forced into your womb by your enslavers lust, how did you deaden the pain. Did you steal some wine to drink to help numb the constant ache in our heart, to help you sleep, to help you forget? And in the end, did you forget? Did you even forget who you yourself were? And if you did, what did it matter to the people who enslaved you, as long as the washing was clean. Even if you sometimes smelt a little bit of alcohol, would they not have just said ‘these people are all like that, that is why we have to treat them as children, because that is what they are, they have the minds of children. They don’t even have feelings for their own”.

I think about you a lot, nameless, faceless lady. Standing there, outside the Old Admiral’s house where you were a nothing, a mere chattel, a washerwomen, a body to serve and to be abused. You were not allowed an opinion, you were not allowed to protest, you were not allowed to feel, so whatever you felt was to be hidden deep within the crevices of your tormented soul. But you did feel, nameless, faceless lady. I sense your feelings so strong within me now. Your tears cry out to be heard, from beneath these official words, and I catch them in my heart.

So now you know that we are connected, nameless, faceless lady. So now that we have met each other in this transitory space, you can finally see who I am. I am the bloodline that exists between the past and the present. I am the inheritor of your broken dreams and the offspring of your pain. But allow me to also be the caretaker of a new dawn, where the chains of slavery and despair will be loosened from our minds as well as our bodies.

So now I reach out to you, over centuries past, for you, nameless, faceless lady, you are my past and I, nameless, face lady, am your future.

Written by and submitted by Joline Young of Simonstown

Candice Moodley

Don’t forget to join Candice Moodley on her journey to find her ancestral roots on 21st December on SABC 2 at 7.30.pm in “Who do you think you are ?”

Having been criticised for not being Indian enough because of her Christian beliefs and her modern lifestyle, television presenter and business woman Candice Moodley begins a journey to discover her Indian roots. It’s a journey that spans two continents, three South African cities and the world’s most remote island.

Candice Moodley born 13th April 1975 (sometimes credited as Candice-Anne Moodley) is a South African television presenter, voiceover artist and actress, best known for co-hosting the magazine show Eastern Mosaic.

In 1989, at the age of 13, Candice was selected by multimedia journalist Manu Padayachee to be the presenter for East-Net, an Indian Community Channel produced for M-Net.

At the time she was the youngest continuity presenter in the country.

At the end of 1993 Moodley left East-Net to concentrate on her legal studies, but ended up joining the K-TV team.

In 1990 she was asked by the K-TV producers to audition for K-TV on M-Net, and landed the job as presenter. Her K-TV career lasted for 10 years.

During her time on K-TV, Candice was selected to be the MC for Former President Mandela’s Birthday Bash in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, which she considers to be the highlight of her K-TV career.

From 1999 – 2000 she presented Teen Sport for DStv, fulfilling both the position of studio presenter and roving correspondent. The series ended in 2000.

From 2000 – 2002 she presented for Standard Bank TV together with Duncan Johnson. This was a corporate TV series that went out to Standard Bank employees and directors only.

From 1999 until the present Moodley has been the co-host of Eastern Mosaic, an Indian community magazine show currently on SABC2.

She also acted in an educational series for the SABC called The Science Club, and had roles in the SABC1 drama Soul City and the drama series Jozi-H, which premiered in South Africa on SABC3 on 26 April, 2007.

In 2007 she was one of the celebrity dancers in the reality show Strictly Come Dancing 3. Her and her dancing partner Quintus Jansen were the semi-finalists of the competition and lost to HHP and his partner Hayley Bennett in the Finale episode. Acknowledgment www.tvsa.co.za

Click here to see her Family Tree

The so-called `Hottenot Venus’, a Bushwoman of mixed stock named Saartjie Baartman, was born on the banks of the Gamtoos River about 1787. In 1810, while living in a shack on the Cape Flats, she was seen by a ship’s surgeon named Alexander Dunlop and persuaded to accompany him to England by promises of great rewards and repatriation after two years. From Sept. 1810 she was exhibited in London at 225 Piccadilly and aroused great interest. It was, however, suggested that she was being kept in durance by her exhibitor, Hendrik Cerar, who, together with Alexander Dunlop, was summoned before the Court of Chancery to reply to the allegations.

The Court was satisfied that there was no foundation in the charges, and the exhibiting of Saartjie continued. At the entrance to the Piccadilly building where she was exhibited were a couple of cartoons of her, the better-known of which was drawn by Frederick Christian Lewis. On 7 Dec. 1811 Saartjie was baptised in Manchester by Joshua Brookes, and this fact is all that is definitely known of her until she was taken to Paris in Sept. 1814 and exhibited there, the exhibitor being a showman named Reaux. Not only were the Parisians intensely interested in Saartjie’s strange figure, but the great scientists, Georges Cuvier and Geoffrey Saint Hilaire, took the opportunity to study her anatomy and to describe it in detail. At her death in Paris on 29 Dec. 1815 Cuvier obtained her body and, after making casts of it, dissected it, preserving the skeleton and other parts. The casts and skeleton are today exhibited in the Musee de l’Homme, Paris. Both in England and in France political cartoons were issued in which Saartjie figured prominently; and in Paris in 1814 a one-act vaudeville was actually produced with the title `La Venus Hottentote, ou Haine aux Francaises’.  by Percival Kirby

Baartman Betekenis

Dié van was oorspronklik Baatemann, afgelei van die ou mansnaam Bate.
Stamvaders: (1) Maarten (Martin) Baartman, oorspronklik Baatemann, van Braak in Oldenburg (Duitsland). Sy moeder was Anna Margaretha Mollenhauer. Hy het in 1752 as matroos hier aangekom, word burger in 1756 en was later eienaar van ‘n kroeg; oorl. 23.5.1787. Trou 25.6.1758 met Catharina Elisabeth Jansen (9 kinders). (2) Jan Frederik (Friedrich) Baartman(n), van Hannover (Duitsland). Trou 29.3.1801 met Huybregtje Koegelenberg (6 kinders). (3) Johannes Arnoldus Baartman, van Amsterdam (Nederland). Trou Mei 1821 in Kaapstad met Judith Aletta Wolff, van Kaapstad.

After World War I, many female pilots flew the Europe to Cape air route. This led to increasing numbers of South African women joining flying clubs, even though the government’s pupil pilot scheme was reserved for men.World War II saw the SAAF grow from 10 officers, 35 officer cadets, 1,600 men of other ranks and 100 aircraft in 1939 to a force of 31,204 servicemen, including nearly 1,000 pilots and at least 1,700 aircraft, in 1941. In 1944 the South African Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (SAWAAF) consisted of 6,500 members. By 1945, the SAAF had more than 45,000 personnel. More than 10,000 women served in the SAWAAF during the war.

Jackie Sorour

During World War II, Jackie Sorour ferried surplus RAF aircraft to countries in the Middle and Far East. She was a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and flew 63 aircraft types, delivering 1,500 aircraft.

Jackie was born Dolores Teresa Sorour in South Africa on 1st March 1922, where she was flying solo by the age of 16. It took some time for her to overcome her fear of the air sufficiently to pilot an aircraft without assistance. After five hours of solo flying she obtained her A licence. In a further effort to conquer her fear, she undertook a parachute jump in Pretoria on 30th January 1938, breaking her ankle during landing.

In 1939 she went to England to obtain her B licence. At her first attempt to join the newly formed ATA, she was turned down. Jackie was a radar operator during the Battle of Britain. Eventually the ban on women as pilots was relaxed and she was able to transfer to the ATA.

In 1945 she married Lieut. Colonel Reginald Moggridge. In the 1950s she joined the Women’s Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve to convert to Meteor and Vampire jets. In 1957 she joined Channel Airways as an airline pilot. Jackie left the airline after the birth of her second daughter in 1961. She died in January 2004 at her home in Somerset, England.

Diana Barnato Walker

Another woman who made her mark in aviation and has ties to South Africa was Diana Barnato Walker. She is 88 and was one of Britain’s top female pilots. The grand-daughter of Barney Barnet (Barnet Isaacs) and his South African wife Fanny lives in Surrey, England, on a sheep farm. Her grandfather was from east London and made his fortune on the South African mines. He died in 1897 when he fell off the SS Christiana en route back to England. Diana also had a wealthy American grandmother on her mother’s side. Her father, Woolf, was into motor racing.

She was born in January 1918, the younger of two girls and lived with her parents in Hampstead, North London. When she was four years old her parents split up. Her mother later married the war-time pilot Richard Butler Wainwright, who had won the Distinguished Flying Cross. Diana was a debutante in 1936.

She learnt to fly in a Tiger Moth in 1937 at Brooklands racing track when an hour’s lesson used to cost £3. After six hours flying, she flew solo for the first time. Barney Barnato’s nephew Jack flew at Gallipoli for the Royal Naval Air Service. She spent World War II as a member of the ATA ferrying planes across England, having joined them with only 10 hours flying experience. She married Derek Walker in May 1944.

At the beginning of the war women were not officially allowed to ferry outside the UK. In late September 1944 Diana flew a Spitfire to Brussels, following her husband Derek, a Wing Commander in the RAF, in another Spitfire. She was on short leave from the ATA. Shortly after her flight, ATA women pilots were officially cleared to fly to Europe. In the final days of the war some made it to Berlin. Also during this time a few women were given the opportunity to ferry Meteor jets.

Diana lost a fiancé during the war and her fighter-pilot husband in another accident in November 1945. After his death, she earned her B licence. She has flown more than 120 aircraft types. In 1963 she became the first British woman to break the sound barrier in a Lightning jet.

Marjorie Egerton-Bird

Marjorie Egerton-Bird

Marjorie Helen Egerton-Bird was born in Weymouth, Dorsetshire. She came out to South Africa with her parents and brother George in 1902. Marjorie was two years old. James Sydney Egerton-Bird arrived in the Transvaal to build a prison in Pretoria. He had been a governor of the Portland Prison near Wentworth in England. The family lived in Johannesburg for five years until they moved to Pretoria for 15 years. Her father was governor of Central Prison from 1907-1917.
Marjorie attended the Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria until her father’s death in 1917 at the age of 48. Marjorie and her mother returned to England, settling in Dover. George was already there attending Naval college. After Marjorie’s mother died in 1926, she returned to South Africa and started working at the South African Reserve Bank in Johannesburg.

In 1936 one of Marjorie’s friends took her to Rand Airfield for a flight. The young pilot showed off by looping the loop. Upon landing, Marjorie declared that she never wanted to fly again. The chief instructor had seen this and half an hour later, he took her up and gave her a smoother flight. Soon afterwards, Marjorie received a small inheritance from an aunt and she used it to take flying lessons which cost £3 per hour through Rand Flying Club. In March 1937, three hours after her first solo flight, she obtained her A licence and an hour later, was competing with 22 men in the Aero Club Round the Reef Flying Race, in which she finished in fourth place. Her licence was endorsed for several different types of aircraft on which she was trained by Doreen Hooper. She could also carry passengers. In 1937 Marjorie was one of the 10 women in South Africa to possess an A licence.

Soon after obtaining her licence, she set about trying to make flying more available to women. Together with Joan Blake, she set up a petition to the government. The petition was signed by 150 women interested in flying but Oswald Pirow, then Minister of Defence, replied, “perhaps after the first thousand men pupil pilots were trained then something might be done for women.” This would take about two years. Marjorie approached Doreen Hooper, who promised to help. Six women met with Doreen at her flat – Joan, Elaine Percival-Hart, Sylvia Starfield, Toy Celliers and Marjorie. They approached Mrs Deneys Reitz, who was the Member of Parliament for Parktown, to chair a meeting at the Wanderers’ Club. An advert was put in the newspaper and on the evening of 5th December 1939, 110 women attended. They called themselves the South African Women’s Aviation Association (SAWAA). Later on they were referred to as the Women’s Civil Air Guard.

Mr. Haswell, secretary of the Rand Flying Club, offered to train eight women every weekend at the Rand Flying Club. Soon other clubs followed suit, and within six months, the 110 members were working during weekends learning all about flying. A year after its formation, the SAWAA had branches throughout South Africa, and numbered between 3 000 and 4 000 members. In December 1938, the SAWAA had eight branches, 67 pilots of which 18 had A licences and two were instructors. In February 1939, the East Rand branch had 100 women joining up – all from Benoni. Each branch collected money to give bursaries to members who showed an aptitude for flying. By 1939, 300 women had joined the SAWAA. In 1939, there were only 600 licensed civilian pilots in South Africa. After raising its own funds, the SAWAA purchased a Taylorcraft 65 De Luxe monoplane for £650. They were not able to use it much as all civilian flying ceased in 1940 and all private aircraft were taken over by the government and distributed to air schools.

In February 1940, six SAWAA members flew over Johannesburg in formation flight. Marjorie was one of the pilots, and this was the first time that women pilots had flown in formation flight in the world.

By the late 1930s, South African women had started asking about joining the Defence Force. In May 1939, the Director-General of the Reserve Force, Brigadier J.J. Collyer, met with Lieutenant-Colonel H.C. Daniel (Director of Technical Services) to investigate the utilisation of women. Lt.-Col. Daniel was not keen but Col. J. Holthouse (Director of Air Services) proposed that women be used as typists, clerks, store assistants, canteen and mess personnel, telecommunication operators, drivers, ground personnel and instructors.

As war loomed, SAWAA members started receiving instruction in first aid, fire-fighting, alarms, clerical and administrative work. Military drill was also taught. When war broke out on 3rd September 1939, the SAWAA sent General Smuts a telegram offering their services. On 10th June 1940, a notice appeared in the Government Gazette establishing a Women’s Auxiliary Air Force which would be associated with and act in co-operation with the South African Air Force.

On 1st June 1940, Doreen Hooper was the first woman in South Africa to be called upon to volunteer for full-time war service. She was 22 years old and was given the rank of Major, in command of the SAWAAF. Marjorie was the second woman to be called up 10 days later, and then Elaine Percival-Hart, both with the rank of Captain. Marjorie was second-in-command of the SAWAAF. On 28 June 1940, the first group of 120 women were taken into full-time service. Five months later there were 800 SAWAAFs proudly wearing the orange flash, signifying they had volunteered for overseas service.

All SAWAAFs did a three week basic training course at Valhalla under the command of the SAWAAF Sergeant Major (Mrs) Edwards. The SAWAAF technical personnel did their advanced training of a year at the Pretoria Technical College, while other training was done at 73 Air School at Wonderboom. The first female Physical Training Instructors graduated from the Military College in August 1941. Women who were appointed as non-commissioned officers (NCOs) did their NCO course at 100 Air School in Voortrekkerhoogte. By June 1942 there were 34 SAWAAF camps in South Africa. SAWAAF pilots flew communication and ferry flights and served as duty pilots and second pilots in the SAAF shuttle service. Special legislation enabled SAWAAFs to be employed on combatant duty, serving at ack-ack sites on instruments to direct the guns and as searchlight operators.

The SAWAAFs came from all walks of life. Helen Beatrice May Fennell was born in Sussex, England, in 1905. She graduated from King’s College, University of London, in 1927, and taught for three years in India. She came to South Africa in 1931, where she met and married Billie Joseph. During World War II, Helen was an information and welfare officer in the SAWAAF. Helen became a social worker after the war and was well-known for her role in the anti-apartheid movement. She passed away in 1992.

In December 1940 the first detachment of SAWAAFs were sent up North with Muriel Horrell in charge. They went to Mombassa in a troopship and from there by train to Nairobi, where a camp was established in a grey stone building. Soon this became too small and they moved to another camp of wooden huts. In September 1940 the SAWAAFs were sent to the Middle East, where their housed in a hotel in Cairo.

During the war, the women performed in some 75 different types of work. These included metal workers, welders, wood workers, fitters and turners, inspectors, armament instructors, stores, clerical, cooks, despatch riders, signals, Link Trainer instructors, lorry drivers, meteorological assistants and observers, developing and printing photos, parachute packers, P.T. instructors, shorthand typists, and wireless operators. By 1941, there were 36 A licence pilots in the SAWAAF.

In 1942 a major re-organization occurred within the SAWAAF. Their administrative functions were amalgamated with those of the SAAF. The SAWAAF directorate remained, but with only a few senior officers serving, their function being to direct the policy of the SAWAAF and to maintain the general welfare and well-being of all the SAWAAFs on full-time service.

After the war, Maj. Egerton-Bird was placed in charge of the Women’s Dispersal Section of the Directorate of Demobilization. By the end of December 1945 1, 955 women had been demobilized. In January 1946 alone, 626 women had been through the dispersal camps. The last SAWAAF camp closed on 1st April 1947.

Assistance was provided to enable women to cope with the transition from war to peace. This consisted of grants for educational and vocational training, vocational guidance officers assisting women to choose training suitable to their capabilities, the provision of courses both full-time and part-time (two of the most popular were shorthand-typing and nursing), and assistance for those who wished to establish businesses. All the discharge benefits available to men were also provided for those women with equivalent service. Women who had been artisans during the war found it difficult as there weren’t sufficient factories in the country to absorb them.

While the majority of women returned to civilian life, a number of the women went into the Women’s Auxiliary Defence Corps and were used in the SAAF. An amendment to the Defence Act was made in 1947, allowing women to serve in the military on a voluntary basis, but only in non-combatant roles, with effect from 3rd June 1947. The Women’s Defence Corps (WDC) was then established on 28th November 1947.

In 1948, with a new government in power, the Minister of Defence, F.C. Erasmus, asked for a report on women serving in the Permanent Force. According to the statistics provided in the report, the SAAF had four officers and 30 other ranks in the WDC. In April 1949, women were no longer able to drive military vehicles. The following month, the Minister decided that recruiting women for the WDC Permanent Force was to cease. Only female military nursing personnel and medical officers were retained.

Women were kept out of the Forces until October 1972 when the Minister of Defence granted permission for the appointment of women in the Permanent Force again. The first three women to join the SAAF in 1974 as Permanent Force members were trained at the Civil Defence College in George. On 19th January 1974, 33 women began their basic training at the Air Defence School in Waterkloof. On 21st February 1995, an all-women’s parade was held at the SAAF Gymnasium in Valhalla to celebrate 21 years of women’s service in the Permanent Force.

In 1996, the SAAF recruited the first six women for pilot training. By October 2004, 15 women had received their wings and 13 were still pilots in the SAAF.

Marjorie Egerton-Bird, who did so much to lay the foundation for women in the Air Force, passed away on 4th January 1982, aged 82 years.

Phyllis Doreen Dunning

Phyllis Doreen HOOPER was born in Johannesburg and attended Boksburg Convent School before completing her education under private tuition. She became interested in flying when, aged nine years old, her parents took her to see a “flying machine” in Barberton owned by Alan Cobham. People could write their names on the plane’s fabric, and Doreen wrote hers.

On the 3rd July 1935, soon after her 18th birthday, she started flying lessons with the Johannesburg Light Plane Club, in Baragwanath. She learnt to fly in a Gipsy Moth (ZS-ADW) and her instructor was Captain Stan Halse who was a RFC pilot in WWI. After two weeks and 9 hours of flying, she earned her A licence and decided to make aviation her career.

In 1936 she took second place in the Vereeniging-Durban-Vereeniging air race, flying a Gipsy II Moth. On the 30th October 1936 she obtained her B licence, becoming the first female commercial pilot in South Africa. This was followed by employment with African Flying Services at Rand Airport. In February 1937 she went to England from where she took part in the Oases Race in Egypt. She flew with Captain V. Budge in a miles Hawk and finished 23rd in a field of 40.

In 1938, with Mr. Calderbank as co-pilot, and flying a Leopard Moth, she placed 8th in the Governor-General’s air race. The same year, she placed 2nd in the Round the Reef air race, again in a Gipsy II Moth.

By July 1937 she was studying for her Instructor’s rating and working for the Johannesburg Light Plane Club. She obtained her Instructor’s rating on 20th January 1938, becoming the first female instructor in South Africa. A few months later she re-joined African Flying Services, now based at Grand Central. Her wire-haired terrier, Starkey, was a common sight at Grand Central and had about 70 flying hours to his credit!

At the outbreak of WWII, she had more than 2 000 flying hours. At the age of 24 she was the youngest officer in the British Commonwealth to attain the rank she held. In October 1943 Lt.-Col. Doreen Dunning resigned on a point of principle affecting her work. Maj. Muriel Horrell took over her duties. After Lt.-Col. Dunning had telegraphed news of her resignation to Maj. Egerton-Bird, then stationed in Port Elizabeth, the Major flew to Pretoria to speak to Gen. Smuts. A short while later, Gen. Smuts made a public apology to Lt.-Col. Dunning in the Press.

She was chairwoman of the SAWAAA. She married Edwin Keith Dunning, who was born in Nigel. He died in Natal in 1968. Doreen lives in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal.

Elaine Percival Hart

Elaine Percival Hart was born in Newport, Monmouthshire. She was educated in England and graduated from Bedford Physical Training College. Elaine came to South Africa in January 1914 and joined the staff of Diocesan School for girls in Grahamstown. In 1917 she joined the Military Nursing Service of South Africa, as a masseuse. Elaine was involved in women’s hockey from 1923 to 1937, managing Springbok tours to the UK, Ireland and the USA.

She took her first flying lessons in 1928 from Dick BENTLEY who flew out from England in a Moth. Elaine obtained her A licence in 1936. She had a passenger endorsement with Doreen Hooper as instructor. During WWII she was Assistant Deputy Director of the SAWAAF and a unit commander. Elaine was a member of the Rand Flying Club and the Grand Central Flying Club. She was an executive member of the SAWAA and chairwoman of the Northern Transvaal WAA. In 1934 she was granted an inventor’s British patent for an “Improved Wind Indicator” for night flying and another one in 1939 for a “Wind Speed Indicator”. Elaine died in the Transvaal in 1955, unmarried.

Muriel Horrell

Muriel Horrell was born in Pretoria in 1910 and educated at Pretoria High School. She graduated with a B.Sc. from Wits University. She earned her A licence at Grand Central where she was a pupil of Doreen Hooper. Muriel was a senior member of the SAWAAF.

Sybil Starfield

Sybil Florence Starfield was one of the founder members of the SAWAAF. She was a qualified pilot and was a leading figure in women’s aviation. Sybil played an important role in SAWAAF recruiting campaigns, travelling all over South Africa. In September 1944, Captain Starfield was missing at sea presumed drowned, as a result of a torpedo action against her ship whilst she was en route to England. She had sailed from South Africa in June 1944, having been seconded to the ATA.

Rhenia Slabbert

Frances Rhenia Slabbert was born in Kroonstad and finished her schooling at Girls’ High School in Johannesburg. She was the daughter of J.H. Slabbert, director of Slabbert, Verster and Malherbe, of Johannesburg. Her interest in flying started in childhood and during a visit in Europe, she flew from London to Paris as a passenger. Back in South Africa, she joined the Rand Flying Club and took flying lessons from Captain Gray. She earned her A licence in February 1937, in Durban, becoming the first woman to obtain her pilot’s licence in that city. She often acted as piloted for her father on business trips. During WWII she was attached to the Communication Squadron of the SAWAAF.

Rosamund King Everard-Steenkamp

Rosamund King Everard was born near Carolina, South Africa in 1907 to British parents, Charles Joseph Everard (a trader and farmer) and Amy Bertha King (an artist). The women in her family became well-known artists, known as the Women of Bonnefoi or the Everard Group.

Rosamund was not only an accomplished artist, but also one of South Africa’s female aviation pioneers. Her career was cut short by her death in a Spitfire demonstration accident in England. She was the first woman to pilot a Spitfire. In August 1945 she became the first woman in the world to pilot a jet aircraft in Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary Service (whilst still holding the rank of Captain in the SAWAAF). She flew a Meteor III jet.

Rosamund attended Eunice School in Bloemfontein. She started painting in the mid-1920s when she was a music student in London and Paris. Rosamund returned to the family farms in the eastern Transvaal in 1926, where she became a successful farmer. She became the first woman to qualify as a cattle judge in South Africa. Rosamund spoke French and isiSwazi.
In 1935 she started flying, earning her A licence (no. 453) on 23rd January 1936. Together with her brother, Sebastian King Everard, also a pilot, she operated a Moth (ZS-AFF). She undertook her first flight across Africa to Britain in 1937. Rosamund went to England and earned her B licence (no. 14171) on 16th March 1938. She earned a 2nd Class navigator’s licence (no. 729) on 28th September 1938 and the Guild of Air Pilots & Navigators Instructors Endorsement on the 29th October 1938. After her B licence she took part in the Empire Air Display at Hendon, London. While in England she also flew in Europe and Scotland. Rosamund won the race for the Wright Trophy at the Njoro Air Rally and Derby in Kenya.

Rosamund returned to South Africa and on 21st April 1939, she earned her South African B licence and Instructor’s Endorsement. She then joined the staff of the Witwatersrand Technical College as a flying instructor stationed in Ermelo and Carolina. She trained many pupil pilots who later distinguished themselves in the SAAF.

When WWII broke out, she was commissioned with the rank of Captain and posted to 61 Squadron where she gave instruction and did flying duties. By 1942 she and Rhenia Slabbert were flying Lodestars between South Africa and Cairo. In 1944 she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary, ferrying many types of aircraft to the operational bases. By then she had more than 3 500 flying hours on active service.

She was killed in a flying accident at Littlewick Green, 5 km west of Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. There was low cloud at the time, and the Spitfire that she was piloting crashed into a hill. She had over 4 000 flying hours. During the war she was attached to the Communications Squadron of the SAWAAF, which ferried important officials to various military centres. Membership of this unit was one of the most envied and coveted jobs in the SAWAAF.

She was a member of the Johannesburg Light Plane Club, the Royal Aero Club in London, the London Aeroplane Club, the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators of Great Britain, an honourable member of the Leicester Aero Club and an associate of the Royal Aeronautical Society in London.

She met and married Hermanus Nicolaas Fourie Steenkamp in 1940, whom she had taught to fly. He was a Lieutenant in the SAAF when he died on 01 December 1942. He was buried on the family farm Welgelegen, in Ermelo.

Amongst Rosamund’s other interests were shooting, swimming, tennis, squash, music, dancing and painting. In November 2000, her painting The Blue Furrow was sold for R55 000 at an auction by Stephan Welz (Sotheby’s).

Enid Marjorie Russell

Enid Marjorie Russell was born in Perth, Australia, and educated at the Perth Modern School. She obtained a law degree in Australia before moving to South Africa. Enid was secretary of the Aero Club of South Africa which was founded in Kimberley. This work involved the running of the Governor-General’s Cup air race. She was also the organiser of the South African Model Aeroplane Championship in 1938-9. Enid was a member of the Rand Flying Club.

Ursula Smith

Ursula “Duffy” Smith was born in Port Elizabeth in 1921 and educated at Holy Rosary Convent. She first flew in the 1920s when Allister Miller took her on a flight. She took up gliding at the age of 14 and obtained a gliding licence. In 1938 she took up powered flight and had to wait until August 1938, on her 17th birthday to go solo, becoming one of the youngest qualified pilots in the British Empire and Commonwealth. Ursula was in university when WWII broke out, so she joined the SAWAAF and trained pilots in a Link simulator. She was also a navigation instructor. She was a member of the Port Elizabeth Aero Club.

Mollie Noreen Goldsmith

Mollie Noreen Goldsmith was born in Benoni and educated at St Andrew’s School in Johannesburg and UCT. She became a member of the Rand Flying Club and took flying lessons from Captain Gray. After almost 12 hours of dual instruction, she went solo, the first woman to do so at Benoni Aerodrome. She was strong apposed to the discriminatory policies that prevented more women from flying.

Muriel Shires

Muriel Shires was born in Johannesburg in 1922 and educated at Kingsmead College. In 1941 she was a pupil pilot at Grand Central where she trained to ultimately become an instructor. Muriel was a member of the SAWAA.

Claire Elizabeth Seawright

Claire Elizabeth Seawright was born in Johannesburg. She was a pupil pilot at the Johannesburg Light Plane Club, where she earned her A licence. In 1935 she won the Star Aviation Competition. Claire graduated with a B.Comm. from Wits University.

Susanne du Plessis

Susanne du Plessis was born in Philipstown, Cape, in January 1890. She was educated at Middelburg and Rondebosch. In June 1937 she earned her A licence at Air Taxi Company in Cape Town. This was renewed in 1938 and 1939 at Pretoria Flying School and rand Central respectively. Susanne was a member of the Transvaal Women’s Civil Aviation Association.

Ethel Louisa Phillips

Ethel Louisa Phillips was born in Sussex, England, in October 1893. In November 1938 she imported a Miles Monarch from England and used it to compete in the Governor-General’s air race from Durban. Ethel was Adjutant of the SAWAAF in Cape Town and presented a bursary for the best all-round cadet. She was a founding member of the Cape Peninsula Flying Club and a member of the Port Elizabeth Aero Club. Ethel was killed when her aircraft went into a spin and crashed at Brooklyn Aerodrome in Cape Town on 19th February 1940. Her A licence had lapsed on the 5th February and had not been renewed at the date of the accident. It was reported that age was understated by at least 12 years on her licence.

Edith D. Watson

Edith D. Watson (maiden name Nicol) was a member of the SAWAAF and an aircraft fitter at AFB Ysterplaat during WWII. She often made her own tools when supplies were short. The tools are on display at the Air Force Museum at Ysterplaat.

Marjorie Juta

Constance Marjorie Juta was born in Cape Town in 1901. Amongst her many accomplishments – horse riding, golfing, big game shooting, author, playwright – she was also a pilot. In 1928 she was riding a horse towards Youngsfield when she saw an aeroplane being unpacked. It belonged to Colonel Henderson, who was starting a flying school. Amongst the people watching this were Sir John and Lady Heath. Marjorie asked him how much it would cost to learn to fly and he replied, “About £60″. A few days later, he agreed to teach Marjorie for the price of the fuel. She spent 10 days with him, often being air sick. After weeks of gales, she finally made her first solo flight in an Avro-Renault. She went on to earn her A licence. At the same time as Marjorie was learning to fly, so were two of her school friends, unbeknown to her,

Marjorie Douglas and Dulcie Evans.

Marjorie, along with Lt. Miss Penny E. Otto, was awarded the Croix de Guerre (avec palmes) for courage as ambulance drivers when they were members of the Mechanized Transport Corps serving in the Battle of France in May 1940. The presentation was done in 1941 in Mombassa, Kenya. When South African women marched to the Union Buildings in 1954, Marjorie was responsible for organising them into ranks of six abreast.

Marjorie Douglas

Marjorie Douglas was one of the first two women to qualify for an A licence in South Africa. She was born in Sea Point, Cape Town, the daughter of Thomas Douglas and Catherina Eleanor Cousins (daughter of Rev. George Cousins). Her brother, Rod, was managing director of De Havilland Aircraft Company in South Africa. She attended St Andrew’s School in Johannesburg and trained as a physiotherapist. Marjorie was a member of the Johannesburg Light Plane Club.

Dulcie Evans

Dulcie Evans was one of the first two women to obtain an A licence in South Africa. Both were trained by Graham Bellin at the Johannesburg Light Plane Club at Baragwanath in 1928. By 1931 the club had nine female pilots besides Marjorie and Dulcie. The nine included Mrs. Haggie and her daughter Diana, Nancy Ferguson, and Mrs. Humble.

Helen Marcelle Harrison

Helen Marcelle Harrison was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1909. Whilst still a child she was sent to St Mary’s School in Calne, Wiltshire, England. During her residence in Eastbourne, she went on her first flight and decided to become a pilot. She secretly took flying lessons until she received her A licence in 1935. While visiting Singapore, she qualified for her seaplane rating. She obtained her B licence at the London Aeroplane Club in April 1936 and in October qualified for her instructor’s rating. Soon afterwards, she moved to South Africa and settled in Somerset West.
In February 1937, Helen was employed by the Air Taxi Company at Wingfield, Cape Town. She became the first female instructor in South Africa and was the first female pilot to instruct pupil pilots under the government’s training scheme. She left Wingfield in May 1937 and joined the staff of the Pretoria Flying School. Helen attended an Instructor’s refresher course at Roberts Heights, becoming the first female pilot to fly military aircraft in South Africa. She was also employed by African Flying Services and worked from Grand Central Aerodrome. Her next employer was Haller Aviation Company in Grahamstown.

Towards the end of the war Helen flew with the Air Transport Auxiliary in Britain. After logging 500 hours she was discharged with the rank of First Officer (class V). Helen returned to Canada after the war, having acquired commercial instructor’s, multi-engine and instrument licences from four countries. Despite her qualifications, she found it very difficult to find a job in aviation. At one point she drove a taxi at Dorval Airport in Montreal. From 1961 until her retirement in 1969, she taught floatplane flying on the Canadian west coast. When she passed away in April 1995, she had logged over 15,000 flying hours.

Helen had a number of surnames. According to her divorce record in South Africa, her maiden name was Testemale. This was a divorce from Louis Botha de Waal in 1939. Various sources give her maiden name as Harrison. In April 1935, according to a legal notice published in The Times, London, she was living at 33 Heathurst Road, Sanderstead, Surrey, when she renounced the surname Barnes and stated that she was to be known as Helen Marcelle Harrison. Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame lists her as Helen Marcelle Harrison Bristol

Winifred Beatrice Beardmore

Winifred Beatrice Beardmore was born in Cape Town in 1914. She attended Wynberg Girls’ High. Winifred started flying in 1938 and obtained her A licence. She was a secretary at Cape Town Airport for a number of years. She served as the secretary of the Cape Peninsula Flying Club, of which she was a founding member. She was also treasurer of the Women’s Aviation Association. Winifred worked for Air Taxi Company when she joined the SAWAAF where she held the rank of Major.

She married Ritchie Tennant, son of Sidney and Daisy. He was a Major with 24 Squadron, SAAF, and died in March 1942.

Betty Rowell Beatty

Betty Rowell grew up in Southern Rhodesia. She was educated in Gwelo and Weybridge, Surrey. In 1938 she settled in South Africa. During WWII Betty joined the SAWAAF in South Africa where she was a Flight Sergeant. She worked in the meteorological office at Youngsfield, as an observer taking weather observations from a psychrometer strapped to the wing struts of a Wapiti biplane and later a Harvard. During one of these flights, Betty noticed a cloud effect downwind of Table Mountain. This cloud creates a specific effect for gliders and became known as Betty’s Wave.
In June 1946 Betty flew solo at Youngsfield after 2 hours 15 minutes dual instruction from Captain P. de Wet, a former SAAF pilot. She broke the record of Joy Cairns of Port Elizabeth, who had gone solo after 3 hours 25 minutes instruction.

After the war, Betty worked for the civil Met office. In November 1954, with 94 flying hours to her credit, Betty bought a new Auster Aiglet and flew it to Ndola, together with a newly qualified private pilot, Dorothy Alton, who was a missionary. Betty sold the aircraft in Ndola and took the train to her parents who lived in Hermanus. She married Pat Beatty who designed and built gliders. Their daughter is Sue Beatty, the helicopter pilot.
Just for the Love of Flying was written by Betty and is the story of her 1954 flight from England to Ndola and other aviation experiences.

Una Eileen Betts

Una Eileen Ross was born in Natal. She was a private pilot and became honorary secretary of the Port Elizabeth Aero Club in 1936. In 1939 she was secretary to the Port Elizabeth Air Rally. The Port Elizabeth branch of SAWAA was founded in May 1939, with Una as a founding member. She married Captain G.C. Betts who served in the RAF during WWI. Una had two brothers in the RAF, one of whom was awarded the Croix de Guerre posthumously.

The SAAF is the second oldest Air Force in the world, after the Royal Air Force, but it was only in 1995 that the first women were selected for pilot training in the SAAF. Ten women were selected but before training started, three fell out as their final Matric Maths exam results did not meet the required standard and one woman decided to go to university first. The six who started training were Renét Venter, Lisl Bennett, Tanya Livingston, Velma Scholz, Kerryn Swemmer and Francis (Frankie) Bester.Lisl, Tanya, Karin and Francis started their training in early 1996, first going through the SAAF’s 3-month basic training course at the Air Force Gymnasium before going on to the Candidate Officer’s course at the Air Force College. Renét and Velma had already completed their basics. Five of them completed the full training and earned their wings in December 1997. Lisl (24), Renét (21), Kerryn (24), Tanya (24) and Velma (24) received their wings at a wings parade at CFS Langebaanweg. They were part of 43 pupils to receive their training on the Pilatus PC7 MkII Astra.

In April 2003, Lt.-Gen. Roelf Beukes, Chief of the Air Force, announced headhunting had lost the SAAF four female pilots, leaving 12.

Lisl Bennett

Lisl Bennett was 13 years old when she decided to become a pilot. Her 17th birthday present from her father was a flight in a Cessna, which was meant to scare her off flying lessons. In 1995 she graduated from Wits University with a degree in aeronautical engineering and was honoured as the top engineering student. When she joined the SAAF in 1996, she already had her private pilot’s licence and 95 flying hours. After her Candidate Officer’s course in July 1996, she was the top academic student, obtaining an average of 88%. Eighty-two students completed the course. Lisl became the first female instructor on the Pilatus PC7 Astra and the Alouette III helicopter. She went on to become the chief ground instructor at 87 Helicopter Flying School, AFB Bloemspruit. She was also part of the SAAF’s purchase project for the Augusta A109M helicopter. In 2003 she earned her Master’s degree in aeronautical technology from the University of Kingston in England. Lisl was one of 18 pilots who took the Royal Air Force Aerosystems course from September 2000 to July 2001. She was the only South African student, the youngest and most junior in rank. She passed with an 83% average, placing her in the top seven students. Lisl is the daughter of Chris Bennett and Mrs. Marion Taite. She has two sisters, Tania and Kirsten. She grew up in Somerset West and Stellenbosch, and matriculated in Boksburg. To relax she reads or does martial arts.

Francis Bester

Francis (Frankie) Bester is from Cape Town and was in the Navy at Simonstown before joining the SAAF. After completing her Candidate Officer’s course in July 1996, Francis was named Victrix Ludorum. The following year she withdrew from the pilot training course after the ground school phase.

Renét Venter

Renét Venter is from Sannieshof and joined the SAAF after matriculating.

Tanya Livingston

Tanya Livingston is a former Zimbabwean who lived in Amanzimtoti before joining the SAAF. She has a degree in sports management. She spent eight years as a part-time crew member of the John Rolfe rescue helicopter. Tanya (33) was recently made a Superintendent when she was appointed as a SAPS Air Wing helicopter pilot in Nelspruit. After her training in Langebaanweg she went to Bloemspruit for the Rotor Wing Conversion course. She did her training on Alouettes for three months, followed by a three-month Oryx Conversion course. Tanya spent two years at 15 Squadron as a co-pilot. She also qualified as a BK117 commander. After Durban, she was transferred to 17 Squadron in Pretoria, and later to 19 Squadron in Hoedspruit. Tanya was the first female pilot doing duty in Burundi. She has more than 2 000 flying hours and left the SAAF with the rank of Major.

Velma Scholz

Velma Scholz is from Swakopmund in Namibia. She was part of the helicopter rescue efforts during the Mozambique floods in 2001. After leaving the SAAF, she joined the SAPS Air Wing in August 2001, becoming the first female pilot there.

Kerryn Swemmer

Kerryn Swemmer is from Benoni and earned a BSc from Wits University before joining the SAAF. She had a private pilot’s licence obtained in her Matric year. Her father used to fly privately and she started flying at 16. After school, she could not get into the SAAF or find a flying job, so she went to Wits. By the time she had graduated, the SAAF was open to female pilots. She flew the Oryx and Alouette helicopters in the SAAF. After leaving the SAAF, she spent some time flying the Hunter’s Gold helicopter as well as operating tourist flights out of the V&A Waterfront, and doing traffic reports for Kfm. Kerryn also spent some time flying in West Africa. She became the first female helicopter pilot to join the South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service in 2001, first on a full-time basis and recently on a part-time basis. She has flown more than 700 mercy flights. Kerryn currently flies for SA Express.

Tamara Thomas

Tamara Thomas from Glencairn Heights is the first coloured female pilot, receiving her wings in March 2005 at Langebaanweg. Flying planes was a childhood dream, after her parents took her to an air show at AFB Ysterplaat when she was eight years old. She matriculated in 2001 at Fish Hoek Senior High. She joined the SAAF in 2002 and spent three years in intensive training. During her first year she did basics and Candidate Officer’s course. In her second year, she attended the military academy in Saldanha Bay, doing subjects such as aerodynamics under a University of Stellenbosch programme. Her third year was spent flying at Langebaanweg. After earning her wings she became the second female fighter pilot in the SAAF. She was born in Grassy Park to Edmund and Serena Thomas. The family later moved to Glencairn Heights.

Igneet Jordaan

Igneet Jordaan was born in 1977 and matriculated from Hoërskool Garsfontein. She joined the SAAF in January 1997 and qualified as a pilot in April 1999. She flew for 41 Squadron until going to CFS Langebaanweg in September 2002 where she qualified as an instructor. She was transferred to 44 Squadron in October 2004, where she qualified as the first female multi-engine flight instructor since World War II within the SAAF. Igneet is married to Bedford.

Annabel Macauley

Annabel Macauley, from Mafikeng, was the first black female pilot, and later instructor, in the SAAF. Her dream started when her father showed her a Boeing’s cockpit when she was 5 years old. After Matric, she spent a month at a chartered accountant firm, followed by a year as an assistant teacher, but neither career interested her. In 2002 she did a six-month instructor’s rating course in the USA. She taught her first pupils at Langebaanweg in 2004. She was also the Ground Liaison Officer for the SAAF’s aerobatics team, the Silver Falcons. Annabel has taken part in flying formation for parades, the Opening of Parliament, and the Ten Years of Freedom celebrations. Annabel is the daughter of Sydney, a church minister, and Annie. She has a twin brother who is a university lecturer, an older sister who studied economics in England and a younger brother.

Mandy Lee Dilley

Mandy Lee Dilley is a qualified aircraft instrument fitter in the SAAF, having completed her apprenticeship in 1996. Her duties include apprentice training on Oryx helicopters. Mandy became interested in aviation when her brother joined the SAAF when she was in Grade 4.

Caren Kok

Caren Kok was in standard seven when she saw a helicopter and decided to become an aviation engineer. In 2006 she moved to Cape Town where she is responsible for maintaining the Red Cross AMS fleet of four helicopters. Caren spent nine years in the SAAF as a helicopter engineer and technical instructor with the rank of Sergeant. This was followed by five years at CHC Helicopters Africa, where she lived in Luanda for a year. Next she worked for eight months at Eurocopter.

Kerina Moodley

The first Indian female pilot in the SAAF, Kerina Moodley, received her wings at Langebaanweg in April 1999, just prior to her 21st birthday. She graduated along with four female pilots – Melanie Habben, Ignette Jordaan, Lauren Pipes and Michelle van Wyk. A female navigator, E. van Rooyen, also received her wings. Since the SAAF started accepting females for pilot training in 1996, nine women had received their wings by April 1999.

Kerina, a former pupil of Burnwood High School in Durban, was inspired to join the SAAF after reading a newspaper article about SAAF female pilots. She initially wanted to join the Police but went to the University of Natal to do a B.Sc. She left university when she was accepted by the SAAF in 1997. Kerina’s first solo flight was on 12th June 1998. She is the daughter of Tharum, a teacher, and Malitha, a pharmacist originally from Cape Town. Kerina has younger twin sisters and a brother.

Melanie Habben

Melanie Habben

Melanie Habben and Musa Mbhokota were the first two SAAF pilots to undergo flight instructor training in the Swedish Air Force. Melanie was previously with 21 Squadron, the SAAF’s VIP squadron based at AFB Waterkloof. Musa was a Cheetah pilot with 2 Squadron at AFB Makhado. They started their 14-week training course in August 2005 in Melmen. Afterwards, they were part of a group that included all the SAAF instructors, to design the SAAF’s new training system.

114 Squadron

In 1976 the SAAF established the first all-women squadron – 114 Squadron, based at the former AFB Swartkop. It provided invaluable service by providing communication flights, air reconnaissance for the SA Police and the Army, and light transport flights. Sadly, the strength of the squadron could not be maintained and it was disbanded in 1990. The remaining members were transferred to 104 and 111 Squadrons. Three of the original eight pilots were Amalie von Maltitz (became second-in-command at 111 Squadron), Surita Volland (became training officer at 111) and Yvonne van den Dool.

Amalie von Maltitz

Amalie von Maltitz took her first flying lesson in December 1967. She took up flying as her father, Dr. Adrian Archibald von Maltitz, wanted to get to their farms in Botswana and the Free State easily. She joined the SAAF Reserves in 1976 and had more than 2 000 military flying hours when she retired. Amalie is a past president of the South African Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. She is also a commercial pilot who flies clients for an air safari company when she is not creating works of art. Amalie is also a well-known sculptor.

She received her art training at Michaelis School of Art, UCT; Akademie der Bildende Kunste, Stuttgart and RAU. She participated in her first exhibition at RAU in 1968. Las year she co-authored a book on the life of sculptor Edoardo Villa.

Her father, a mining engineer, was one of the founders of RAU. He passed away in 2003 at his farm in Dewetsdorp. He was married to Gerda, a painter, and they had five children – Amalie, Helene (married Kingsley), Alida (married van Deventer), Hanna (married Eason and Rutherford) and Peter. Alida created the Haas Das and Liewe Heksie puppets and Hanna is well-known in the pottery world. The family home is in Westcliff. Amalie is the family historian.

Surita Volland

Surita Volland started flying in 1982 at Wonderboom Airport. She joined the SAAF Reserves in 1989 and later became a Captain on domestic flights for SA Express Airways. With more than 6 000 flying hours, she is a Gr-II multi-engine instructor.

Yvonne van den Dool

Yvonne van den Dool was born in Johannesburg in October 1930 to Hugo van den Dool and Wilhelmina Antonia van ter Horst. Her father was a school principal and her mother a teacher. Yvonne matriculated from Parktown Girls High in 1948. During a trip to the Vaal Dam, she saw a flying boat and she decided to make aviation her career but after finishing school she worked for the SABC. Yvonne applied for the Rhenia Slabbert Bursary and was successful. This enabled her to obtain her A licence after training at the Johannesburg Light Plane Club at Baragwanath. After eight hours of instruction, she went solo and received her licence at the age of 19. Two years later she obtained her B licence (no. 139 C), making her the fourth women to do so in South Africa.

In 1952 she finally landed her first aviation job, transporting passengers and cargo into Lesotho. She also joined the Ninety-Nines Club that year, an organisation of licensed female pilots started by Amelia Earhart. The Lesotho job did not pay well and Yvonne joined SAA as a cabin attendant. In 1953 she married Victor Stephens Lourens, a pilot from Francistown. She started flying Dakotas ferrying miners between South Africa and other African countries. In 1954 she obtained her senior commercial licence (no. 68 S), the first woman in South Africa to do so.

In 1956 she moved to Salisbury where did aerial spraying of the Kariba Dam construction site to keep it free of tsetse fly. The following year she obtained a senior commercial licence in Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In 1958 Yvonne set an altitude record by flying a Tiger Moth to 6,433 metres. She moved to Zaire where she obtained another senior commercial licence and an instrument rating. Shortly after her daughter Ingrid was born in 1959, the family fled Zaire for Johannesburg, where her second daughter Karen was born. In 1965 Yvonne and Victor divorced and Yvonne moved to her parents’ farm in Tzaneen, where she farmed with fruit and did freelance charters.

In 1966, she started a Ninety-Nines branch in South Africa. During a visit to a Ninety-Nines conference in Washington D.C. Yvonne managed to do an American commercial licence. In 1969 Yvonne won the Amelia Earhart Scholarship, which was presented to her in New York by Amelia’s sister, Muriel Mornsey.

Yvonne placed second in the 1968 State President’s air race. She also took part in the 1970 Argus Tip to Top air race, which was from Brixton Tower in Johannesburg to Table Mountain in Cape Town. When the SAAF’s 114 Squadron was formed in 1977, Yvonne joined up with the rank of Major. She left the SAAF two years later and moved to Lanseria. Yvonne retired from flying after more than 35 years in the air. She worked in Johannesburg before retiring to Hermanus. Yvonne’s parents passed away in 1971. Both her daughters married pilots – Ingrid to Juan van Ginkel (whose parents were also pilots) and Karen to Charlie Rudnick (a former SAAF Silver Falcon)

Wrenelle Stander

Wrenelle Stander, a former director-general at the Department of Transport, was appointed as chief executive officer of Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) in April 2005. ATNS is a state-controlled company responsible for providing air traffic control and navigation services at South African airports. She succeeded Dr. Johan van Vollenhoven who took early retirement. Wrenelle was general manager of business development section at ATNS before going to the Department of Transport, where she was the first black female director-general.

Sibongile Sambo

Sibongile Rejoyce Sambo is the sole owner of SRS Aviation which she started in 2004. A friend, who received a scholarship to train as a technician with the SAAF, introduced her to aviation. Sibongile attended air shows and looked at starting a business in aviation. She is the first black woman to own an aviation company in South Africa. SRS Aviation does executive and VIP charters for government and private businesses. Sibongile is also training to become a pilot. She currently leases aircraft and flight crews. SRS Aviation also does game capture and culling and offers other services such as security and aerial photography. In order to start-up SRS Aviation, she required a minimum capital of R800 000, which no bank was willing to provide to her. Through the support of her family and friends, she managed to raise the money.

Sibongile holds a Bachelor of Admin (Hons) degree from Unisa. Her elder brother Rhulani and younger sister Thembelihle also work for her. Rhulani, a former school teacher, is also training to become a pilot. Sibongile was born in Bushbuckridge and raised in KwaZulu-Natal.

Sources

Eastern Province Herald: Winged Courier by Harry Klein
The Herald newspaper
Women of the Air, by Judy Lomax, 1986
Lady Icarus: the Life of Irish Aviator Lady Mary Heath, by Lindie Naughton Throttle Full Open: a life of Lady Bailey, Irish aviatrix, by J. Falloon, Dublin, 2000
An Eccentric Marriage: Living with Jim, by Barbara Bailey, Tafelberg, 2005
Amy Johnson: Queen of the Air, by Midge Gillies, 2003
Wingfield: a pictorial history, by Gerry de Vries, 1991
Amy Johnson, by Constance Babington Smith, Collins, 1967
I Must Fly – Adventures of a Woman Pilot, by Sheila Scott, 1968
Cape Odyssey newspaper, Issue 56, June/July 2006
Spreading My Wings: One of Britain’s Top Women Pilots Tells Her Remarkable Story from Pre-War Flying to Breaking the Sound Barrier, by Diana Barnato Walker, 2003
South African W.A.A.F., by K. Jameson & D. Ashburner, Shuter & Shoter, Pietermaritzburg, 1948
Flying High: The Story of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force 1939-1945, by Major Marjorie Egerton-Bird and Molly Botes, as published by the South African Military History journal
Boundless Privilege, by Marjorie Juta, 1974
Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame
The Times, London
Die Burger, Beeld, Rapport and Daily Sun newspapers
National Archives of South Africa
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Personalities in South African Motoring & Aviation, Knox Pub. Co, Durban, 1941
Just for the Love of Flying, by Betty Rowell Beatty
Ad Astra, SAAF magazine
Soldier, SANDF magazine
True Love magazine, July 2004
Sarie magazine, May 2006
Joystick, South African Power Flying Association newsletter
In Southern Skies: A Pictorial History of Early Aviation in Southern Africa 1816 – 1940, by John Illsley, Jonathan Ball, 2003

Images (from top to bottom):

Lady Sophie Mary Heath soon after arriving at Stag Lane, from Cape Town, in 1928
Lady Mary Bailey
Peggy Salaman
Amy Johnson
Diana Barnato Walker
Melanie Habben (photo from http://www.flygs.mil.se/photo.php?id=101900&nid=29039)
Jane Trembath
Asnath Mahape
Sue Beatty (photo from www.heli.com/resources/logging.html)

Cato Williamson

Cato “Dinky” Williamson (maiden name Ladan) was one of the first South African female pilots. The tiny woman used to ride around on a Harley Davidson and even in her 80s she would ride from Cape Town to Johannesburg and back, alone on her Packard motorcycle. Her brother, Eduard, said that she was so small that she had to sit on pillows when flying or motorcycling. She passed away in Kalk Bay in August 1989. Her funeral was held at the St James church in Kalk Bay. Cato was born in the Netherlands in 1893. At the age of 18, she married Bill Williamson, a pilot. By 1929, Cato and Bill were flying around South Africa. During WWII, Bill flew planes to Crete but was injured during a flight and was made Adjutant at Wingfield. He passed away in 1942.

Ann White

Ann White learnt to fly at Virginia Airport in 1964 with her husband. Both served on the flying and executive committees of the Durban Wings Club for many years. Ann went on to do a commercial pilot’s licence and Instructor’s and Instrument Ratings. She was a member of the Aero Club power flying committee in 1972-3 and served on the executive committee of the Aero Club in 1973. The same year she was awarded Aero Club Gold Wings for her services to flying, especially in Natal. While a private pilot, she participated in flying competitions and won a number of trophies in the Women’s Aviation Association competitions. In 1971 Ann was awarded the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship by the International Organisation of Women Pilots – the Ninety-Nines. This enabled her to get an open rating on singles and a conversion to Cessna 310/320 series. In 1984 she was awarded the Paul Tissandier Diploma.

Goosen sisters

Jean Goosen and her sister Agnes were the first women in South Africa to earn their private pilot’s licence after WWII.

Valerie Wiggett

In 1988 Valerie Harriot Wiggett, then a public relations officer in Cape Town, and Monique Masson of Pretoria, were selected to be the first women to undergo pilot training in the SAAF. Later that year, the Air Force changed their decision.

A disappointed Valerie then enrolled for a BA arts degree. She eventually managed to get a bank loan to pay for lying lessons and obtained her private pilot’s licence. Her father is retired SAAF Brig.-Gen. Barry A.A. Wiggett, a fighter pilot in the Korean War and was awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross. During his career he was commanding officer of Langebaanweg, Dunnottar and Air Force College. He was one of the SAAF’s first helicopter pilots. Valerie has nine siblings and was born in Langebaan in 1966. One of Valerie’s cousins was an Impala pilot and her brother-in-law was a Puma pilot. There are seven pilots in the Wiggett family. Valerie matriculated from Hoërskool Vredenburg where she was the first English-speaking head girl. Afterwards she spent a year in St Paul, Minnesota, USA, as a Rotary exchange student. She has taught English in Japan and is currently working for Media City in Dubai.

Monique’s father is Bob Masson who was a test pilot for Atlas.

Sue Beatty

Sue Beatty is a helicopter pilot. To get her licence she offered secretarial work in exchange for flying lessons. She’d offer to move the helicopter from the grass to the cement pad, logging five minutes. Eventually she applied for and won a national grant to do her commercial license, passing the exams at first attempt. Sue joined Court helicopters. Later on she went to the USA where she saw a S-61 helicopter logging in Oregon. She is now a support pilot in Oregon, with her sights set on flying the logging helicopters. She purchased a trailer (caravan) and takes it wherever her job takes her, along with her cat. Sue married Peter Dinkerlacker in November 1999.

Nadia Gous and Shelley Gould

In May 2006, Base 4 Flight Academy in Cape Town was training 18 female helicopter pilots. Nadia Gous and Shelley Gould are flight instructors at the company. Nadia has been flying for five years, taking her first helicopter flight at the age of 16. Her father was a SAAF Colonel and her mother is an administration manager at a flying club.

Shelley is an outdoors person who enjoys mountain biking and hiking. After obtaining a B.Sc. she worked for an investment bank overseas. Her brother Michael is a pilot and she became interested in flying. In June 2006, Shelley was seriously injured when the Grand Caravan she was co-piloting crashed in southern Mozambique. The other co-pilot died in the crash.

Maxie Kroeze

Maxie Kroeze was Sun Air's first female pilot, having joined in 1995. A qualified chartered accountant, she learnt to fly in Tzaneen when she was the 24-year-old financial manager at Dorbyl. Maxie earned her private pilot's licence in three weeks and passed her commercial pilot's exam in her first attempt.

Margaret Parr

Margaret Parr is a captain with British Airways Comair. Her father’s career started in the Royal Air Force during WWII, and he continued in the aviation field, and flew as a Private Pilot. After school, Margaret went to university to do a B.A. but later left to go to secretarial college. She started working for National Airways Corporation at Lanseria in 1987.  
In 1988 she started flying lessons, and nine months later she earned her private pilot’s licence – flying lessons cost R100 per hour back then!  In 1990 she was accepted by SAA on their very first cadet programme, and went on to qualify for her Commercial Pilots Licence.
Her first flying job was with National Airlines, (a division of National Airways Corporation), flying a scheduled operation to Upington, Springbok and other Northern Cape towns. In 1993 she passed her Airline Transport Pilot Licence.  
In 1996 she joined Comair, flying the ATR42 aircraft on local routes such as Skukuza and Gaborone.  In 1997 she was offered the opportunity to fly the Boeing 727-200, and in 2000 she became Comair’s first female Captain.  At present she is flying the Boeing 737-300, -400 and -800, and holds the position of Check Captain.  She is married to Willem Viljoen, who is a Director of Photography, and also holds a Private Pilots Licence.

Aloma Stevens

SA Express pilots Aloma Stevens and Karen Croucamp (maiden name Smith) were the first female pilots to fly both turbo-prop and jet passenger aircraft with an all-female crew. In June 1995, they flew from Johannesburg to Kimberley for SA Express. On 10th June 1998, they flew from Walvis Bay to Johannesburg with Anelize van Jaarsveld and Tumi Mocume as cabin attendants. Aloma has over 10,000 flying hours and began her flying career as a cabin attendant. She then did bush flying in Botswana, followed by flying for a mining company before joining SA Express.

In 2003, 38 women graduated from the SAA Aviation Academy course as aviation specialists. The Women in Aviation Programme is a management-training programme targeting senior and middle management to contribute to the transformation of SAA. Its objective is to develop high calibre female managers. In June 2003, SAA’s total staff by gender was 62% male and 38% female. There was one coloured female first officer, two Indian female first officers, nine white female first officers, four white female senior first officers and three white female captains.