Pretoria, South Africa: On 15 July 2025, as the country celebrated not just the legacy of Nelson Mandela but also the future of its airspace heritage, the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) came together to chart a new course. This was not merely the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. It was the convergence of ideas, a weaving of institutional legacies, and a bold vision for collaborative innovation in one of the most critical infrastructures of our modern society – aviation.
The event, dignified in its tone and ambitious in its outlook, saw the presence of UNISA’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, flanked by her Vice Principals Professors Magano, Seekoe, Dr Molapo, Ms Nakene, and Mr Motebele. The programme director, Professor Jacobs, ensured a fluid and respectful flow of proceedings.
Professor Magano set the tone with a metaphor that will linger – if lions do not come together to form a pride, even a limping buffalo will outrun them. Indeed, in the cutthroat world of global aviation, collaboration is not a luxury but a necessity. The MoU, he noted, was about more than institutional handshakes; it was about building a research space that fosters sustainable aviation. It was about co-creating a national agenda rooted in the growth and transformation of the aviation sector, while supporting South Africa’s broader development goals.
ATNS Acting CEO, Mr Maholola, reminded us that ATNS was born in July – the same month as Mandela and, fittingly, the month of the signing. He was keen to emphasise that the MoU did not only concern the skies. It also touched the ground, especially in areas such as records management, heritage preservation, and the establishment of a museum – the first of its kind on the continent. This museum, envisioned as a repository of aviation memory and knowledge, would serve not only as a tribute to the past but also as a learning engine for future aviators.
Professor Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences, offered perhaps the most layered reflection of the day. She described how this MoU had morphed from a community engagement initiative into a continent-defining collaboration. For her, records and memory are not just academic pursuits – they are tools of transformation. The project is multidisciplinary by design, with the College of Law, and the College of Economic and Management Sciences all joining hands. Six teams have been set up to deliver on this vision: Records Management, Knowledge Management, Library Services, Museum Development, Training and Accreditation, and Research and Innovation. She concluded with the stirring words: True navigation begins in the human heart.
The technical roots and academic scaffolding of this collaboration were further laid out by Dr Mabaso and Dr Mandisa Msomi. Their journey began with a humble records management project and has grown to encompass a sweeping catalogue of collaborative pathways. They unveiled plans for a Records Management Learning Lab in October 2025 and highlighted forthcoming publications – proof that the partnership is not ornamental but grounded in action.
Then came the symbolic signing of the MoU – a quiet but powerful moment of institutional convergence. What followed were remarks that echoed the gravity of the moment. Mr Zola Majavu, Chair of the ATNS Board, praised UNISA’s vision-driven approach and urged all stakeholders to avoid the trap of gatekeeping. He spoke candidly of South Africa’s global standing in the aviation world. His anecdote of visiting a Qatari control tower during the World Cup – staffed by eleven South Africans out of thirteen controllers – was a powerful indictment of local under-recognition. We are exporting excellence while doubting our own capabilities. He captured the spirit of the day perfectly: there is no more UNISA, no more ATNS – only Team Transformed Aviation.
Professor LenkaBula took the podium last, delivering a sweeping address that wove together themes of innovation, transformation, and the African intellectual future. She praised the scientific work being done at UNISA and thanked ATNS for placing its trust in the university. She posed a provocative question: Where is South Africa in the aviation and aeronautics value chain? The VC sees UNISA not merely as a participant, but as a shaper of that chain – a university ready to claim its role as a continental and global leader in aviation-related research. She touched on the convergence of marine and aviation studies as a future research frontier, and spotlighted student innovations from a recent hackathon focused on navigation systems and defence algorithms. The message was clear – the aviation industry is changing fast, and UNISA intends not to follow, but to lead.
Professor Senokwane closed the proceedings by thanking all stakeholders and reiterating what had by then become unmistakable – this MoU creates not just opportunities, but possibilities. The horizon of this partnership is wide. It reaches into archives, into airways, and into the imaginations of all who dare to ask not only how we fly, but why we fly, and with whom.
The Flying Jurist will continue to track this important development. For now, we look to the skies – and to our archives – with a renewed sense of purpose.
Prof Angelo Dube is a Professor of International Law, Acting Director of the School of Law at UNISA, and Chief Executive Officer at Flying Jurist, and founder of the Aviation Indaba. He writes here in his personal capacity.
