ACSA boss shares her meteoric rise
The queen of Airports Company South Africa, Bongiwe Pityi, reigns supreme as the first black woman to hold the position of a general manager at OR Tambo International Airport.
Pityi, who hails from a small town outside King Williams Town, in the Eastern Cape, is the last born sibling of two brothers and a sister.
Both her parents are educators and Pityi said they instilled a value system that stressed the importance of working hard for the quality of life.
Pityi holds a Bachelor of Law degree and said she always knew that education was the springboard to quality opportunity.
She has been in the aviation industry for quite some time now.
Her journey in aviation began in 2000, which then led her eventually to the then Johannesburg International Airport.
At the time she was appointed the manager of Airports Company South Africa’s parking business.
Her career progressed further when, in 2005, she was appointed assistant general manager of Durban International Airport.
She led and managed the operational transition of Durban International Airport, within a limited window of convenience, to the new King Shaka International Airport, in time for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
She continued to serve in this position until early 2012.
In that year she was appointed deputy director for operational readiness planning at Guarulhos International Airport, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“I formed part of a team that played a critical role in improving the airport’s capability and ensuring its readiness to handle an influx of aircraft and passengers in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in Brazil,” Pityi said.
After successfully completing the Brazil project she returned to South Africa in August, 2015, to head up the flagship OR Tambo Airport as the general manager.
“I was greatly humbled by the accolade. Female representation, particularly black females in key strategic roles in aviation continues to be a challenge,” she said.
“In order for a woman to overcome the obstacles and excel in this industry it requires endurance and high levels of perseverance. I was honoured at being appointed as the first female general manager of Africa’s flagship airport.
“To me it’s an indication and an acknowledgement of the contribution I have made to the aviation industry.”
Pityi believes that her job requires her to invest in staying abreast with key developments in the organisation and within the aviation industry.
She said the challenge that this presents is the inability to achieve a work life balance.
Her motto in life is that she is highly driven by success, disciplined and a firm believer that the quality of her contribution determines the quality of life she gets to enjoy, while having a regard for others and being humble.
Pityi advises people who would like to make it big in life to first identify the industry they loves and in which they would like to excel.
She said once this is done it is important to appreciate the importance of starting from the bottom, to learn the ropes from those regarded as being most experienced and wise.
“Stay focused and use education as your stepping stone, pursue quality opportunities that will take you to the career of your dreams,” she added.
“There will, admittedly, be many disappointments along the way, but do not focus on them. Any person wanting to make it big in life needs to appreciate that there are no short cuts in life.
“They must be hard workers, persevere, be a team player, reliable and consistent in the organisation.”.
