The National Skills Fund (NSF) awarded R148 million to Wonderboom-based Flyfofa Aviation Training in 2024 to train residents from impoverished Gauteng schools, but later discovered the school inflated student flight hours to pocket an estimated R3,879,159.89, according to the NSF.
Why did the NSF issue noncompliance letters to Flyfofa?
The NSF issued noncompliance letters after finding a significant mismatch between the flying hours claimed by Flyfofa and the actual hours recorded in student pilots’ logbooks. The NSF stated that the school submitted false information, meaning students did not receive the hours for which the fund paid.
These claims were signed off by Jacobeth Fisha, who serves as the school’s CEO, sole director, and head of training. The NSF initially suspended tranche payments but resumed them after Flyfofa agreed to provide credit notes and a recovery plan to deliver the outstanding hours by June 30, 2026.
How was the funding allegedly misused?
Beyond the inflated flight hours, the NSF reported that Flyfofa breached its contract by making bulk transfers out of the dedicated project bank account. The NSF now requires weekly bank statements and documentation for every payment to track expenditure, referring the matter to its directorate of internal audit.
The NSF also accused the school’s director of self-dealing. Flyfofa Aviation Training paid R11 million to Teejay Properties for transport and accommodation and R2 million to JMF Promotions for uniforms and materials. Jacobeth Fisha is a director of both companies, and her husband, Thabo Fisha, is a co-director of Teejay Properties.
The NSF stated it only learned of these arrangements after querying the payments and found the documents provided to prove market value “unconvincing.” Additionally, the NSF confirmed that Flyfofa stopped paying some student accommodation providers while payments were on hold.
What is the connection to Flyfofa Airways and the SIU?
Flyfofa Aviation Training shares a director and address with Flyfofa Airways, a company currently facing an R85 million claim before the Special Tribunal. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) alleges that Flyfofa Airways misrepresented aircraft ownership to win a South African Airways (SAA) tender in 2016.
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The SIU argues that a 2019 contract extension for a Boeing 737 300 freighter (ZS TGG) breached National Treasury rules because the aircraft was grounded from December 2018 to August 2019, yet SAA continued payments. Thabo Fisha, who was dismissed from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) in September 2015 before joining Flyfofa Airways, denied these claims in a responding affidavit.
The NSF admitted it did not pick up this “red flag” before awarding the R148 million in 2024 because Flyfofa Aviation Training did not appear on the National Treasury restriction database. The NSF maintains a technical distinction between the training entity and the airways entity, though it says it will engage Flyfofa regarding the allegations.
What happens next for the funding?
Flyfofa remains in business and continues to receive NSF funding. However, the NSF stated that as of July 6, the school had not responded to its last letter and had not recovered the outstanding flight hours as of the June 30, 2026 deadline.
Because the deadline has passed, Flyfofa may be required to repay the money. The NSF’s internal audit and the ongoing resolution regarding the “unconvincing” market value documents for the related-party payments could also lead to further contractual actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Flyfofa bursary programme?
The bursary was reserved for students from no-fee schools in quintiles 1, 2, and 3 for drone and cabin crew courses. For the hour-building programme, previous disadvantage was a qualifying factor, though applicants needed a pilot’s license.
What was the specific amount of the flight hour discrepancy?
According to the NSF, the discrepancy amounted to R3,879,159.89.
Did Flyfofa respond to the allegations?
No. Jacobeth Fisha and the company did not respond to requests for comment regarding the flight hours, recruitment, related-party deals, or the Special Tribunal case.
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