As a dynamic individual who enjoys empowering others in the areas of leadership, entrepreneurship, and status quo challenge, Major Mandisa Mfeka is well-known for being the first black female combat streamed pilot in the South African Air Force, as well as being a member of the aircrew that flew in the Hawk Formation Flypast during the Inauguration of our current president (Cyril Ramaphosa).

In 2008, Mandisa enlisted in the SAAF with the goal of becoming a pilot. As a result, she has 14 years of experience. She began flying in 2010 and earned her military pilot's qualification in 2011. In 2018, Mandisa started her career in the Combat Line and was certified as a Hawk Mk120 Commander. This was part of reframing the narrative for women of color, in what is seen as a male-dominated field. As part of her training, Mandisa had the privilege of flying in formation with the Gripens, delivering bombs to ground, training with simulated air targets, and dogfighting. Air intercept exercises, capability demonstrations, prestigious flypasts, tactical navigation training, and air to air firing exposes, to name a few, have all been part of her experience. Mandisa’s interests however, are not limited to the cockpit. In 2019, she was assigned the additional responsibility of Flight Safety Officer at the Squadron, which resulted to her promotion to Aviation Safety Officer in 2021. Currently, she is assigned to Headquarters in the Air Force Command post as an Airshow Planner.

 In addition, Mandisa volunteers at an outstanding non-profit that is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of girls

around the country through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) programs. This has been an extremely rewarding opportunity since, not only does the girl obtain access to fields that were previously closed to her, but she also forms connections and shares memories with unlikely companions because to the spirit of Esprit Decor.

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