15 October 2026

Creecy Says South Africa’s Final ICAO Safety Rating Is 94.99%, Seventh Globally

South Africa has received a final safety rating of 94.99% from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says places the country seventh globally and first in Africa. A preliminary result of 95.12% announced in April had placed it eighth. Creecy announced the final rating on 1 October 2026.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy speaking at the launch of Transport Month in Midrand on 1 October 2026, where she announced South Africa’s final ICAO safety rating of 94.99%. [SAnews.gov.za]

Edited by:

African Pilot Newsdesk

Why this article matters
South Africa’s ICAO safety rating has moved from a preliminary 95.12% and eighth place in April to a final 94.99% and, according to the minister, seventh place globally. The 94.99% figure is the final result, and the 2023 full-scope audit score of 91.23% is the earlier ICAO figure for comparison.

The rating describes the effectiveness of South Africa’s civil aviation safety oversight system, which the minister characterises as strong and mature. The Transport Digital Authority is to handle online permitting services, with Flight Operator Permits among the first to be digitised, by December 2026.

Of Interest
- ICAO has given South Africa a final safety rating of 94.99%, according to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who announced it on 1 October 2026 in Midrand.
- Creecy says the rating makes South Africa seventh globally and first in Africa.
- SACAA announced a preliminary result of 95.12% on 29 April 2026, which placed South Africa eighth globally.
- The 2023 full-scope ICAO audit produced a score of 91.23%.
- South Africa’s Department of Transport and its entities have decided to establish a Transport Digital Authority, with the digitisation of Flight Operator Permits by December 2026 among its immediate priorities.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has given South Africa a final safety rating of 94.99%, which Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says makes the country the seventh-leading globally and the highest-ranking in Africa for the effectiveness of its civil aviation safety system. Creecy said she received confirmation from ICAO in September and announced the result on 1 October 2026 in Midrand at the launch of Transport Month.

The final rating follows a preliminary result of 95.12% announced by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) on 29 April 2026, which placed South Africa eighth globally and first in Africa after an ICAO follow-up validation mission. The previous full-scope ICAO audit, in 2023, produced a score of 91.23%.

Creecy said the outcome affirms the strength and maturity of South Africa’s aviation safety oversight system.

She also said the Department of Transport and its entities have decided to establish a Transport Digital Authority to develop an integrated digital platform for online permitting services through one citizen interface. Digitising Flight Operator Permits by December 2026 is among its immediate priorities.