The SA Air Force Brings Aviation Awareness to Soshanguve
Written by admin on August 8, 2024
The South African Air Force as an organisation of the people, heeded a call to form part of the 2024 Career Expo by the Itshekeng Educational Tours held in Soshanguve at the Giant Stadium.
The two days’ expo from 06 to 07 August 2024 aimed at attracting pupils from local schools doing Grade 9 and 10. The residents of Soshanguve and surrounding areas including Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa converged on the grounds of the stadium to absorb what the SA Air Force had brought onto their door step.
The event organisers envisaged to attract over 4000 pupils from across the lengths and breadths of the multi-cultural township, and their target was met and exceeded expectation. The area of Soshanguve is known to be a melting pot of many diverse individuals from all over the country and many people there are multi-lingual and fashion forward. The name Soshanguve encapsulates the Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni, and Venda people, in recent years, the area has embraced more local cultures and foreign nationals who enjoy the vibrant subcultures that makes the place what it is, something that has seen the area attracting the buzz that spreads to even far-flung areas like Hammanskraal and beyond.
The members of the public and learners from various schools were able to interact with members of the blue culture and their equipment of operation.
On site, amongst other disciplines of the blue culture the SA Air Force had Bases and Units bringing in their various hardware. Equipment and personnel came from 1 Air Servicing Unity, 5 Air Servicing Unity, 68 Air School. With them, they brought for welding, carpentry and paint shop equipment. Ammunition on display from missiles and bullets were of amusement to many who had never seen and touched them before. It would not be an SA Air Force culture without an aircraft, thus, a static display of the Alouette Helicopter from the SA Air Force Museum formally known as (Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing) was on site.
“Wow, and wow, I had no idea that the Air Force has so many career paths that the youth can explore. I only knew that soldiers are all about war and fighting battles abroad and in the country when there is too much crime, I have seen them working hand in glove with the police before. Now that I know there is technical careers in the organisation, I will ask more questions and share my dreams with the recruitment people my dreams of one day becoming an Astronaut,” says Ms Matladi Pudikabekwa, a grade 10 pupil at Soshanguve Engineering School of Specialization.
From Hlomphanang Secondary School, Ms Lebohang Mokone who has aspirations of becoming an air hostess in the SA Air Force and to serve Parliamentary Honourables in the aircraft (Inkwazi) that fly the President on the country (President Cyril Ramaphosa). “I read an article, years back, talking about an air hostess in the military, so that is where I see myself after two years when I complete my grade 12,” says Ms Mokone.
Ms Juliet Mokoaledi, from Wallmansthal High School said “We are here in the month of women, when our teachers mentioned this expo, I knew it was where I had to be. When it came to career guidance that we got from the SA Air Force, it was different from the ones we usually get from the internet about the organisation. I am going to share what I learnt today with my family members, friends and school mates because how else are we supposed to lessen the unemployment rate if we aren’t prepared to share the information we get.”
Amongst other exhibitors were, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), South African Police Service (SAPS), Road Accident Fund (RAF) and various Institutions of Higher Learning.
Disclaimer || Permission was obtained for the scholars’ photographs to be taken during SA Air Force activities, and they also agreed to their publishing on the SA National Defence Force’s social media platforms.
Article by Sergeant Lebogang Ramaboea || Photos by Sergeant Koketso Naomi Phasha || SA Air Force.
