Minister Gordhan tells SAA employees the airline is “here to stay”, urges them to work as a team
The Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan has told the employees of South African Airways (SAA) that the airline is here to stay and is confident that the Board and executive management will steer the national flag carrier to greater heights as they chart a new course following the termination of a proposed strategic equity partnership (SEP) deal.
In a message to SAA’s current staff complement of almost 2,000, Minister Gordhan said the airline had a great future ahead, but staff will need to work together as a team to confound cynics and naysayers by helping the carrier seize on market opportunities and showcase the best of its customer service to recapture market share.
“We should be grateful to government for the role it played to avoid liquidation,” Minister Gordhan told SAA staff connected virtually and gathered physically at Airways Park, SAA’s headquarters in Kempton Park this past Friday.
“Our ambition is that SAA will make enough profit to pay the government dividends. We have rebuilt the airline, and it will make profit that can support the fiscus instead of it looking for bailouts from government,” said Minister Gordhan.
“SAA is here to stay. SAA will grow. SAA will expand. Don’t allow negativity to come near us,” said Minister Gordhan.
He said the Board, executive management and the shareholder were already engaged in efforts to help the airline raise funding to sustain its route expansion plans and the optimisation of its fleet to serve customers better.
Minister Gordhan said there must be zero tolerance of corruption at SAA, which celebrated its 90th Anniversary last month. He noted that State Capture had played a significant role in bringing the airline to near collapse in December 2019.
“We will have zero tolerance for any corruption that rears its ugly head at SAA. We have a bright future ahead of us. We need to work together. You must work as a team.”
For Media Enquiries contact
Ellis Mnyandu, DPE Spokesperson
E-mail: ellis.mnyandu@dpe.gov.za
Tel: 012 431 1228 / 079 828 7779
