Thieves clip pilot’s wings

Eastern Cape commercial pilot and flight instructor Captain Sipho Mangesi was robbed of his pilot’s licence, gold wings and epaulettes last weekend.

Mangesi, 28, also lost high-end aviation headsets, worth R15 000, and other important flight documents after thieves broke into his parked car and stole his flight bag from the boot.

Mangesi was supposed to conduct a training flight yesterday, but had to cancelled the session due to the stolen licence.

“Sadly, I am not able to fly without my pilot’s licence,” he said.

“My car was parked outside my house [in Port Elizabeth].

“It could have happened to anyone; crime is out of control.”

The stolen flight bag also contained a watch, Apple AirPods, aviator sunglasses and epaulettes, he said.

“I also lost other personal belongings,” he said.

Mangesi, from rural Nqamakwe in the former Transkei, is the pride and hope of many young villagers.

He is a symbol of success and is famous for hosting motivational talks at rural schools.

Mangesi said police were investigating the incident and had been keeping him updated.

Port Elizabeth police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a case of theft out of a motor vehicle is under investigation.

“Among the items taken were a pair of shoes and camping chairs.

“The estimated value of the belongings is approximately R28 000,” she said.

– News24 Wire

It could have happened to anyone; crime is out of control.