FLYING high above the world in what is essentially a weapon of war, SA Air Force combat pilot, Major Mandisa Nomcebo Mfeka, better known in the air as “Comet”, is as far away from her Malvern childhood as anyone could imagine her to be.
Yet she remains solidly grounded in the reality of who she is. And is keen to provide young girls growing up in Queensburgh the proof that the sky is only another limit to be beaten through determination and hard work.
Growing up in Malvern, Mfeka, whose family moved to the city from a rural area when she was a child, grew up with the love and support of two parents and an extended family which gave her the basis on which she built her dreams.
ALSO READ: Pinetown’s Caitlyn to empower young women with grace
“I don’t think I would have got as far as I have without the support of my parents,” she said. “It’s a tough world, I’m not going to lie. It’s mentally straining, emotionally draining and it’s physically straining.
“Once they saw I was really determined to become an airforce pilot, they were really behind me all the way.”
“They saw that I really didn’t want a career that would keep me doing routine work, but rather an adventure type of career and the airforce was exactly what I was looking for.”
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
