By: Natasha Archary
Semakaleng Mathebula is South Africa’s first black hot air balloon pilot. The 27-year old is one of a few women who participates in the once “exclusive” sport.
“It’s not the most conventional route when it comes to piloting. Most people just venture into flying aeroplanes, whether commercial or light, or getting your helicopter license. No one thinks, ‘Oh, I want to be a hot air balloon pilot!’ But I fell in love with these multi-coloured balloons.”
SA’s first black hot air balloon pilot shares with Gugulethu Mfuphi
Struggling to find work, Mathebula managed to get a job as a marketing assistant for a hot air balloon tour company.
She managed to get a scholarship to get pilot training from the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Balloon and Airship Federation of SA (BAFSA), and earned her license last year.
Mathebula shares with Gugulethu that the industry is competitive in terms of remuneration, once a pilot license has been earned.
“I am up before the sun rises because most balloon tours take off at the crack of dawn. But I do aim to put in about 15-hours a day to get a certain threshold. It is a competitive sport as well.”
The high-flyer will be competing in the South African Hot Air Balloon Championship for the first time this month.
She says the sport really does need young blood, and would like to see more women and black people in general getting into the sport.
Listen to Semakaleng Mathebule’s full interview on Kaya Biz:
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