South Africa recently reached another aviation safety milestone, achieving a preliminary result of 95.12% following an audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations Specialised Agency on aviation.
The on-site follow-up activity, which is called the ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) conducted by independent ICAO experts, assesses a State’s progress since its previous safety audit. In South Africa’s case, the last full scope audit was conducted in 2023, resulting in a 91.23% rating.
The final detailed report is expected from ICAO over the next 90 days.
This outcome is a huge milestone for the country and the Continent as it has placed South Africa in the top ten best performing countries and number one in the Continent.
The follow-up audit is conducted in line with the prescribed ICAO requirements of an effective oversight system.
This achievement reinforces confidence in South Africa’s aviation system among international partners, airlines, investors and the travelling public. A high rating signals that the country’s regulatory oversight meets global best practice, supporting continued international connectivity, market access and the sustainable growth of the aviation sector.
It also strengthens South Africa’s position as a leading aviation hub on the continent. A strong safety oversight system remains a key enabler of socio-economic growth, supporting trade, tourism, cultural exchanges and job creation.
Welcoming the outcome, the Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy, said: “We are very proud of this achievement for South Africa. It reflects the strength of the systems we have in place and the collective effort to ensure the safety of our skies. I would like to thank the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) for leading this mission and for the thorough preparations ahead of this audit. I also commend the industry who stood side by side with the Regulator as ICAO sought to confirm the effectiveness of the oversight system at implementation level.”
The SACAA’s Director of Civil Aviation, Ms Poppy Khoza, added: “This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership and support of the Minister of Transport, the SACAA Board and the commitment of the entire aviation industry to regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. We thank all aviation entities and operators that participated in the audit. This remarkable outcome is further testament to the zero fatal accident rate in the commercial airline sector, which South Africa has enjoyed for over four decades.”
