PARLIAMENT has
instructed National
Treasury to expedite the
appointment of a permanent
board at SAA. Deputy finance
minister, Mcebisi Jonas,
told TNW the appointment
of a new board was “going
through the parliamentary
process”. He could not give
a date when it would be
concluded.
Meanwhile, SAA
chairperson, Dudu Myeni’s
future hangs in the
balance after facing hostile
questions in Parliament
over the financial state and
leadership woes at South
Africa’s national carrier (see
TNW November 25).
A recent joint sitting of
Parliament’s Standing
Committees on Finance
and Public Enterprises saw
Democratic Alliance MP and
Shadow Minister of Defence,
David Maynier, insist that
Myeni resign. “The best
thing for SAA is for the chair
to just go. Do the right thing
for SAA and for South Africa
and resign!”
DA Shadow Minister of
Public Enterprises, Natasha
Mazzone, said the board was
“imploding” under Dudu’s
tenure, with the airline in
“the worst crisis it has been
in this past year”. She
said the recent vote of no
confidence by SAA’s pilots in
the chair and non-executives
of the board should be seen
in a “very serious light”.
Inkatha Freedom Party
secretary-general, Sibongile
Nkomo, agreed there
appeared to be confusion
about the roles of board
members and that Dudu
appeared “too powerful”.
Meanwhile, SAA board
non-executive director,
Yakhe Kwinana, confirmed
that a shortlist for a new
permanent ceo had been
sent to finance minister,
Nhlanhla Nene, and that
a response was expected
shortly. SAA’s ceo has been
a revolving door position
lately with the recent
appointment of SAA head
of Technical, Musa Zwane,
being the third acting ceo
this year.
Spoke too soon
SAA was left with egg
on its face over an
earlier statement on
the suspension of chief
commercial officer,
Sylvain Bosc, over the
alleged Abu Dhabi route
misrepresentations. SAA
admitted Sylvain had not
received notification of the
disciplinary enquiry and
formal complaints against
him before the statement
was issued.
“The decision as to
whether Mr Bosc is guilty of
such alleged misconduct will
be taken by the chairperson
of the disciplinary enquiry.
To the extent that the media
release may suggest that
Mr Bosc has been found
guilty of any misconduct or
impropriety it is sincerely
regretted and no impairment
to Mr Bosc’s identity was
sought or intended,”
SAA said.’
