WOMEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Writer: More Matshediso
Oref ile Mt hombeni is reac hing new heights in t he aviation industr y.
Orefile Mthombeni blazes a trail in aviation
A
t just 30 years
within ATNS, as well as
of age, Orefile
the first female SAATSEPA
Bachelor of Technology
Mthombeni is
executive president,” she
in Business Administra-
says.
tion from CUT and she is
ed to her current position
currently studying towards
at the ATNS Safety Office.
already shattering the glass ceiling in the aviation industry.
ATNS provides air traffic,
In 2019, she obtained a
cher International Airport in Bloemfontein. In 2018 she was promot-
As a technical standards
nagivation, training and
a Bachelor of Commerce:
Bloemfontein-born
other related services
Honours (Business Man-
specialist, Mthombeni is
Mthombeni is a techni-
to South Africa as well
agement) at the University
responsible for the assur-
cal standards specialist
as 10% of the world’s
of South Africa.
ance, development and
at state-owned company
airspace.
Air Traffic and Navigation
Mthombeni joined the
maintenance of a techni-
Lift-off
cal standards oversight
Services (ATNS). She is
company in 2012 through
Mthombeni’s career in the
also the Executive Presi-
the Aviation Training
aviation industry took off
dent of the South African
Academy, where she
in the same year, when
there is compliance with
Air Traffic Safety Electron-
completed practical com-
she accepted a trainee
the regulatory require-
ics Personnel Association
ponents of her National
position at Air Traffic
ments of the ATNS com-
(SAATSEPA), which ATNS
Diploma in Electrical En-
Safety Electronics Person-
munications, navigation
launched in 2017.
system. She also ensures that
gineering (Light Current).
nel (ATSEP) at OR Tambo
and surveillance (CNS)
“Women do not usually
She obtained that quali-
International Airport.
systems.
occupy these positions. I
fication from the Central
After a stint at the Cape
am the first female techni-
University of Technology
Town International Airport,
vestigate failures of these
cal standards specialist
(CUT) in 2013.
she moved to Bram Fis-
systems and provides
8
Mthombeni helps in-
Public Sector Manager • October 2021
