KZN Premier saddened by death of student pilot in crash

A young Durban student pilot, Leeche’ Manuel (24), has died after a plane crash during training in Johannesburg. The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, has expressed shock and deep sorrow following the death of Manuel, who was funded through the Premier’s Bursary Programme. Manuel, originally from eThekwini, died in a plane crash on Thursday, while undertaking flight training in Johannesburg.

At the time of the accident, he was in the final stages of completing his Instructor training and was on a routine practice flight with his instructor. Manuel was not merely a bursary recipient; he was a shining example of the talent, discipline, and determination that our province seeks to nurture,” Ntuli said. “Being on the verge of qualifying as an instructor is a testament to his commitment and hard work.

On behalf of the Provincial Government and the people of KwaZulu-Natal, I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the broader aviation school community.” Manuel was awarded a comprehensive bursary by the Office of the Premier in February to pursue his Commercial Pilot Licence and Instructor Rating. His training journey took him from Pietermaritzburg to Richards Bay, and ultimately to Johannesburg, where he was completing the specialised aircraft training required for his final assessments. Ntuli has directed the Bursary Unit to render all necessary support to the Manuel family during this period.