Refilwe Moreetsi

Refilwe Moreetsi is a South African airline transport pilot, who serves as a senior first officer at South African Airways (SAA), the national carrier airline of South Africa. Since June 2022, she concurrently serves as the Fatigue Risk Management Specialist (FRMS) at SAA, having served as Deputy FRMS before that. She was the first black female pilot to serve in those roles in the 90+-year history of the airline.

Background and education Moreetsi was born in the town of Tzaneen, in Mopani District Municipality, in Limpopo, South Africa, circa 1987. She is the youngest of four children.

She attended Merensky High School in Tzaneen. Following the attainment of a high school diploma, she turned down a full scholarship to study mining engineering at the University of Pretoria and an alternative to study aeronautical engineering at Wits. Instead she joined the South African Air Force (SAAF), to pursue aviation.

In 2010, she attended Starlight Aviation Group and obtained a private pilot's license and attended Helicopter Flying School for more certification. In 2020, she graduated from the DaVinci Institute with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Management, specializing in aviation management.

Personal First Flight Officer Refilwe Moreetsi is a married mother of two.