In a region long dominated by heavy engineering and coal mining, commercial drone technology is rapidly emerging as an essential industrial tool.

At the forefront of this shift is 24-year-old Ncumisa Mngwevu, founder of National Specialised Drones Services, who is rewriting the playbook for how local industries operate, inspect, and protect their assets.

While popular perception often ties drones to wedding photography or social media content creation, Mngwevu highlights their true strategic value in commercial aviation, aerial surveying, and emergency response.

In regions like Nkangala, where annual veld fires pose severe risks to infrastructure and communities, thermal-sensor-equipped drones act as vital first responders.

Mngwevu said that by detecting heat signatures and tracking fire trajectories in real time, high-tech drones evaluate hazards without risking human life.

However, establishing a professional drone enterprise requires navigating a strict legal landscape.

Governed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority, commercial operators must move beyond casual hobbyist status by acquiring a Remote Pilot Licence, mastering both Visual Line of Sight and advanced Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, and securing a Remote Operating Certificate at the corporate level.

After pivoting from an electrical engineering background in 2024 to launch her enterprise, Mngwevu is now focused on the future.

Beyond providing specialised commercial services, she aims to bring local drone training directly to Middelburg, with plans to sponsor local youth, particularly young women, to secure their licenses.

“By bridging the gap between high school education and high-tech aviation, I am demonstrating that Mpumalanga’s economic trajectory extends far beyond the mines and into an AI-driven future,” she said.