On Sunday, 23 January 2022, marked the 2nd anniversary of the unfortunate and tragic accident of Cessna ZS-CAR Aircraft accident that claimed the lives of Captain Thabiso Tolo, First Officer Tebogo Lekalakala and and Flight Inspector Gugu Mnguni. The initial investigation was conducted by the Accident and Incident Investigation Division (AIID), a functionally independent unit reporting to the Minister, but operationally attached to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). The preliminary report was released on 23 January 2020.
Following engagements with the families, who expressed discomfort with the proximity of the AIID to SACAA and expressed preference for an independent investigation, I then issued an order to this effect. We then appointed the Ethiopian Accident Investigation Bureau, who undertook the independent investigation.
On Sunday, I met the Tolo, Lekalakala and Mnguni families and handed over the final report which had been released to us by the Ethiopian Investigation Bureau. The report was also uploaded on the website of the SACAA on the same day as required by Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention. I extended my apologies to the families for the delay in finalising the report, which process was impacted on by the COVID-19 restrictions.
Death of any kind brings sorrow, anguish and unanswered questions and many of us battle to find closure as those we lost are forever lingering in our memories.
In terms of Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, the sole purpose of the investigation is the prevention of accidents and not to apportion blame or liability. I am equally bound by the same Convention, to which South Africa is a signatory and have domesticated its provisions, to release the report.
I extend my appreciation to the Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Ms Dagmawit Moges, for graciously accepting our request for the Ethiopian Accident Investigation Bureau to conduct an independent investigation under challenging COVID-19 conditions.
With the final report now released by the AIID, other parties may choose to appeal to the Minister and have 60 days from the date of the report to do so. As the Minister, I am enjoined to observe the due process and allow that period to lapse before pronouncing myself on the content of the Report.
The full report is immediately available on the website of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACCA), www.caa.co.za.
More information: Lawrence Venkile
081 562 3493
General Enquiries: Esethu Hasane
071 259 2422
