Writer: Noluthando Mkhize
TRAILBLAZER
Hi flying High in SA’s skies service to your country and helping other people. I come from a family where helping the community has always been at the centre, with my father being a pastor, so joining this profession came naturally to me.” In 2011, Mavhungu joined the military and after completing his six months of basic training, he joined 7 Medical Battalion, a unit within the SANDF that gives medical support to other units. In the same year, he also began his journey into
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the world of parachuting by joining the 44 Parachute ith his eyes tightly closed and his body floating
Regiment, which is South African Army’s chief air-
just below the clouds, the strong breeze on his
borne unit and is based at the Tempe Military Base
face was the only thing reminding Corporal Daka-
near Bloemfontein.
lo Mavhungu that he was 1 500 feet (about 457 metres) above the ground when he performed his first sky jump. Last year Mavhungu, 23, became the youngest skydiver at the South African Defence Force (SANDF).
He explains that his course consisted of physical training, jumping from an aircraft and other elements.
“During my first jump I was just praying that the parachute
“Part of physical training consisted of combat train-
opens. I could not open my eyes; I kept them closed the whole
ing where we trained for three days without sleep
time. My very first jump was a day jump,” recalled Mavhungu.
or rest.”
After completing his matric at Maswie Secondary School in Tshakhuma, Limpopo, in 2009 he pursued a career in mechanical engineering at the Techniven Technical College. But after a year, Mavhungu’s interest in engineering waned and he felt the need to serve his country and its people. “I love everything about being a soldier - keeping fit, giving
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“I underwent six weeks of training to learn the basics of parachuting.”
Another component was ground training in a hangar and jumping from a Dakota aircraft. “We had day and night jumps where we would be about 1 500 feet above the ground. I did more than 13 jumps to complete this course.” Then, in 2013, he did a basic free fall course, which
Public Sector Manager • April 2015