The South African Police Service’s Lieutenant Colonel Kgothatso Khunou has done SAPS proud by walking away as the overall winner in the aviation category at the Forty under 40 Awards.

Khunou has received praise from National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, for her stellar achievement.

“We are immensely proud of both our pilots, who were nominated in the aviation category of the Forty under 40 Awards. This is an example of the pockets of excellence that exists in the SAPS [South African Police Service],’ said Masemola.

Khunou is the first female chief helicopter pilot attached to the SAPS Airwing in the Free State and one of 17 female pilots nationwide.

The Forty under 40 Awards, which are held to honour and celebrate young achievers under the age of 40 from various industries, took place on Saturday, 5 October, in Ekurhuleni.

The Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, delivered the keynote address at this prestigious event.

WATCH | Forty under 40 Awards

Khunou was nominated together with Captain Zeldah Ntuli, who is a fixed-wing pilot attached to the SAPS Airwing, based at Wonderboom Airport.

Khunou hails from Rustenburg, and she fondly describes herself as a ‘village girl’.

She says a career in aviation found her and not the other way around. As a teenager, Khunou kindled a dream of following a career in science.

Khunou has a commercial pilot licence and also holds a National Diploma in Biotechnology. Having a fear of flying, Khunou courageously jumped at the opportunity to overcome this fear when she was offered a scholarship to qualify as a commercial helicopter pilot.

READ | The sky’s not the limit for SAPS pilot

This ultimately led her to join the SAPS in 2014 as a junior pilot at the rank of warrant officer. Khunou is currently in her final year of obtaining a Diploma in Management (Aviation).

On a daily basis, Khunou’s duties include attending to day-to-day operations by providing air support to ground units searching for suspects, dangerous cri
minals and assisting with search and rescue missions.

Source: South African Government News Agency