The majority of SAA staff members responsible for offering support to the travel trade have opted to take voluntary severance packages, leaving a handful of people to look after the trade.
Both Denise Kotze, who headed up retail (inland), groups and tour product sales (FIT), and Ian Lotter, group sales manager, have taken VSPs.
Andrew Stark, md of Flight Centre Travel Group Middle East and Africa, said Denise’s departure was a huge loss for the travel industry. “For as long as we have been dealing with SAA, Denise has always been there,” he said. “Through all the different changes over many, many years, Denise has been the only constant as managers and leaders have come and gone.” He said it would be hard to replace her.
Travel News understands that in addition to Denise, four other senior managers have also left. These are Tshidi Majorbella who headed up SMME global contracts, Sandile Makari who headed up sponsorships, Andile Ngubane who headed up trade support and Amanda Gobozi who headed up trade marketing and sales support.
The acting HOD for the SA market, Emmanuel Hlongo is still with SAA, as are Faith Sikakane, regional sales manager – Coastal; Elliot Themba, manager Government & Corporate Sales; and Dorah Tolo, groups specialist.
A Section 189 consultation process is under way at SAA and at this stage no one has been retrenched.
Louise Brugman, spokesperson for BRPs, Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, told Travel News that when the process has been concluded, about a thousand employees will remain, which will include people responsible for looking after the travel trade.
