The late Kelebogile Olivia Molopyane had a dream: to ensure that girls and young women in South Africa got as much exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education as their male counterparts.
And it was for this reason that in 2019, Kele founded Africa Beyond the 4th Industrial Revolution (AB4IR), a non-profit organisation that took in young women between the ages of eighteen and 35, to introduce them to the intricacies of drone operations, coding, manufacturing and practical operations.
Called Drone Divas, the programme has bee taking in students on an annual basis since 2021; and it is heartening to see Kele’s legacy being carried on, three years since after she left earth.
Most of the Drone Diva graduates have been absorbed by the local drone industry, working as pilots and technicians for drone services providers in the country.
But 31-year-old Bongiwe Nyawo from Richards Bay in KwaZulu Natal province has proved to be a unicorn: she decided to start her own drone technology enterprise.
Having graduated from the 2023 cohort, Nyawo reckoned she could carve out her own niche in South Africa’s growing agriculture technology sector; hence she founded Nyawo Zendalo Air, a start-up which uses drone technology to support sustainable agriculture, forestry and environmental conservation.
Nyawo Zendalo is IsiXhosa for Nature’s Feet.
The proprietor say she got introduced into the drone industry after she came across a WhatsApp message inviting applicates, and she decided to investigate further.
“I was introduced to drone technology when someone on my WhatsApp shared an advertisement for a course by AB4IR,” Nyawo says.
Open for applicants between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, the Drone Divas project was opened for students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the townships and rural areas, who hold a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) learning.
The Drone Divas programme is premised on the fulfilment of AB4IR’s pledge to help the drone industry in South Africa grow through encouraging the support of young citizens from marginalised parts of the country.
After Nyawo got enrolled, her strong performances saw her being selected as one of the top participants upon completion.
“When we finished the training, we received a surprise gift of a drone starter package, and we had to decide on our own what we would do with it.
“I saw an opportunity to start a business that was more aligned with sustainability and food security.”
Nyawo launched Nyawo Zendalo Air in May 2024 after completing training as a drone pilot. The company focuses on sustainable drone services for the agricultural, forestry and environmental conservation sectors.
To generate revenue while the business grows, it also offers security monitoring, photography and videography services.
Her entrepreneurial efforts have already attracted recognition and support from the KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s Office Youth Fund, which helped her acquire an additional drone and office equipment.
She was also named the winner of the Dragons’ Den 2025 Most Innovative Small Business Award, hosted by ABSA and the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
She has also been selected among the top 20 candidates in the Agri-Tech and Aqua-Tech Acceleration Programme led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which aims to strengthen innovation in sustainable agriculture.
Through the programme, Nyawo is developing a project that could further advance environmentally responsible farming practices.
“I am working on building my own drone that will be sustainable, using bio-fertiliser and pesticides in order to contribute to the sustainability of our environment and food security,” she says.
“This drone is meant to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which focus not only on sustainability but also on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that harm the environment.”