‘THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITHIN SAA LEADERSHIP’

Scopa chairperson Themba Godi says there are serious problems within SAA’s leadership, but cannot say if the departure of Dudu Myeni would improve the situation.

Masego Rahlaga

JOHANNESBURG - Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) chairperson Themba Godi says there are serious problems within South African Airways (SAA)’s leadership, but cannot say if the departure of the airline’s board chair Dudu Myeni would improve the situation.

Scopa on Wednesday interrogated the irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure racked up by the airline during the past financial year.

During a question and answer session with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in Parliament, claims emerged that government plans to sell off its stake in Telkom to raise an R10 billion bailout for SAA.

Godi says finances at SAA need to be sorted out.

“From our discussions on Wednesday, it’s clear that there are a number of problem areas, but of course leadership is one of the critical issues, whether from the board or management, I think there are serious challenges that need to be corrected.”

Meanwhile, transport economist Joachim Vermooten says the problems at SAA are caused by the carrier wanting to do too much while it cannot afford to.

“At the moment, it has a broad mandate and I think it’s just too wide. And it’s expanded on its activities instead of contracting that. So, you really need to make a change in direction to actually reduce the last lay-offs."