Having had a stable 7 year career in human resources working for Telecom SA and later DeBeers. Sibongile Sambo knew there was more to life than just mere stability. So naturally the frustrations of a nine to five propelled her to ask herself a question we've all asked ourselves at one point or another. "What do you REALLY want from life, what are you most passionate about?". After a couple of weeks pondering on this question, the answer that spilled from her heart is one her mind wasn't quite ready for.
FLYING.
Her love for planes is one conceived in her childhood. She grew up near Hoedspruit Air Force Base and her childhood memories are those spent waving at jets as they came in and out of the Air Force Base. While at DeBeers having access to their private jets revived this passion of her youth and gave her the courage to pursue her dream. In 2003 she took advantage of the then newly implemented BEE, resigned from her job and in 2004 founded SRS Aviation LTD the first black female owned aviation company in South Africa.
She submitted her first application to what was to be her first tender to a government contract. In applying for the tender, Sibongile knew she had no technical expertise to flying so she approached an existing aviation company to partner with in pursuit of this tender. Upon being awarded the tender, finance was her biggest obstacle. On her first assignment, she had to lease an aircraft from Russia for the amount of R800 000. Armed with the confidence of having a tender at hand Sibongile approached a couple of banks. To her disbelief doors slammed in her face . Apparently the amount she requested was too large and the collateral's posted too small.
So what do you do when you have the job, the contract and heart to see your dream to fruition, yet still the world tells you NO. Sibongile turned to her village. Her mom who was then a nurse working in the UK and her aunt with whom she was living with. She called her mom in complete desperation affirmed her that she knew very well that she didn't have the money she was about to ask for and that her request is unorthodox (withdrawing every cent out of her pension fund). When her mom agreed She still stood short and for the remaining amount she approached her aunt to do the same and assured she would pay back every cent.
She deposited the R800 000 to the Russian company which was the only company that had the required aircraft. "I remember waiting for days at the airport for the plane to arrive, panicking that after paying so much money and risking peoples lifelong savings the aircraft my not arrive" she said. You can imagine the sigh of relief when the aircraft finally landed. She got the company she had partnered with to do the necessary inspections on the aircraft in preparation for SRS Aviation's first assignment. Because Sibongile had no prior experience in relation to aviation processes. She wasn't quite ready or the news she got after the inspection. Naturally in leasing an aircraft the fee charged does not include fuel, so over and above the R800 000 she already paid, she still needed R300 000 worth of fuel. With the tender papers in hand she approached petroleum companies for a fuel loan. Little did she know that when it comes to air crafts, petroleum companies cant loan fuel. There are dynamics they cant control ie. in flying out of the country they have no insurance that you wont leave with their fuel never to return. With just a few days to the assignment Sibongile approached the aviation company she had partnered with to loan her the R300 000 of which she was prepared to pay back with interest.
When this first trip took place successfully, it laid the foundation for many more contracts for SRS Aviation. Her company grew drastically purely through reinvested profits. In 2005 with just a full year of business SRS Aviation had generated revenues of $5 Million. Today SRS Aviation provides services in VIP charter, cargo charter, tourist charter, game count and capture, fire fighting, medical evaluation, powerline inspection etc.
I dare anyone to try stop Sibongile...That is the audacity of a dream.
SALUTE
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