By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa has been re-elected to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Governing Council at the 42nd General Assembly taking place in Montreal, Canada.
The re-election took place on Saturday, 27 Sep 2025, and South Africa was re-elected in Part II of the General Council.
The following Member States were elected:
PART I – States of chief importance in air transport
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
PART II – States not already elected in Part 1 but which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation.
Argentina, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and Switzerland.
SA delegation was led by Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy.
Creecy, said this re-election reaffirms the mandate that the country has held since 2003 and demonstrates the confidence of member states in South Africa and its ongoing contribution in shaping the global aviation agenda.
“The re-election also reaffirms South Africa’s instrumental role in advancing ICAO’s agenda on safety, security, sustainability, and environmental matters, while ensuring that the African continent’s priorities remain firmly on the global stage.
Creecy said that the role and leadership of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the African Union’s specialised civil aviation agency, needed to be acknowledged as it was instrumental in placing Africa’s aviation priorities at the centre of ICAO’s agenda.
ICAO and its 193 member states develop and implement global aviation strategies, technical standards, and capacity building activities to enhance the safety, sustainability, and inclusivity of air services worldwide.
Elections to PART III – States ensuring geographic representation – will take place on 30 September 2025 in Montreal, Canada.