Monhla Wilma Hlahla, 45 years old was born in Limpopo province in 1963. She is the CEO of the Airports Company of SA. Monhla manages all state-owned airports and she is also is a former political activist. Monhla Hlahla has been named South Africa's Businesswoman of the Year for 2005.

Hlahla is a product of Catholic girl schools. Monhla didn't finish her studies after matric as school wasn't so great around 1976. There were so many disturbances that affected her studies. She tried Fort Hare, she tried the University of the North, but she never finished her studies. She went to the United States to study economics, and landed up working in macro lending. She completed her Master's degree and in 1994 she decided to come back home for holidays and she never went back again. Monhla joined the Development Bank of Southern Africa and was responsible for a number of infrastructure projects. She also managed the Commonwealth Africa Investment Fund. Thereafter, she was seconded to the municipal infrastructure investment unit as CEO. In March 2000, Monhla joined Old Mutual Employee Benefits as GM for the northern region. Hlahla is a non executive director of Air Traffic and Navigation Services, SA Tourism, Business against Crime and the International Marketing Council of SA.

Monhla was appointed by the late transport minister Dullah Omar to the board of directors as a non executive director. She then became a CEO of the Airport Company of South Africa (ACSA). On her appointment she made sure that she will restructure the company. She made sure that salaries will improve and the security at the airport will be guaranteed. After two weeks of her appointment ACSA experienced the biggest difference on the profit. Hlahla has no doubt when it comes to her job, she loves it dearly she enjoys seeing change every day. Monhla is proud to say that ACSA has matured and they are looking for sustainability. The company's aim is to invest back to the people and make ACSA the leading airport operation in the world. The other projects she is looking at will be the ways of improving customer service and improving the airports before 2010.

Monhla's accomplishments are an inspiration to all of us and she is a role model for other women. That was also noted by the business woman's Association (BWA) president Namane Magau. Hlahla also runs a successful, commercialised and semi-privatised state company that paid its shareholders a dividend of R360-million in 2004. Hlahla works in a high-pressurised environment but she spends her spare time in the garden in her home in Parkhurst. Unlike other women in business who have to work their time in between either with children or in business, Monhla does not have children of her own.

As the winner of the Businesswoman of the Year 2005 award she made it clear that the award is a sign of confidence in her and in Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). As the company they will continue to provide world-class airport infrastructure for the benefit of the South African economy. She showed her appreciation, and she is convinced that she has the confidence to continue contributing to the improvement of our people's lives.

Sources:-

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Sibongile Sambo is the founder and managing director of SRS Aviation, South Africa. She was born in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga in 1974. She is the first black woman in South Africa to own an airborne service company. This kind of business is usually dominated by males but she has changed that.

Sibongile's interest with aircrafts started when she was a young girl. Whenever seeing a plane flying overhead, she would stop immediately and imagine herself in that plane. She had visions about planes and would imagine herself flying to different countries and meeting different people. Today Sibongile offers luxurious services to people, globally.

Sibongile completed her BA Administration at the University of Zululand. Like any other graduate from the University she applied for jobs everywhere, but she never lost her focus. She followed her long life dream by applying for the post of cabin crew at South African Airways (SAA). She also applied for an HR position at Telkom.  She was accepted for both posts. Her family thought that it would be better for her to work at Telkom than working at SAA as they believed that it was a risky job for her at such a young age.  She did not want to disrespect her parents, so she accepted the Telkom post.  This was a very difficult decision for her.

She was soon promoted to a management position because of her superior performance.  Her career grew into higher levels everyday. She worked for companies like De Beers, City Power and many more.  While she was working she was also studying part time. She achieved her Honours in Administration at the University of South Africa. She also achieved a post Graduate Diploma in Change Management from University of South Africa.

In 2006, she started SRS.  SRS Aviation (Pty) Ltd is South Africa's first, and only, fully empowered, black-women owned and operated airborne services business. The company offers air VIP charter, air cargo charter, tourist transfers or charter, game count and capture, fire-fighting, heli-camping, medical evacuation, aerial photography, film work, slinging or airlifting, powerline inspection and maintenance, and general air security services.

Today Sibongile is a member of the Black Management Forum (BMF), the Enterprise Development Forum, FABCOS (CHAMSA) and Fly South. This ambitious and self driven young woman has been able to generate job opportunities and empower women from previously disadvantaged background. She is the mother to a five year old boy and also a winner of numerous business awards. She is passionate about excellence and success.   She is truly a woman to admire and emulate.

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