Enough is enough – start privatisation now

01 May 2016

The recent grounding of SA Express (SAX) by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) due to a failure to meet the safety measures deadline of 29 April is yet another example of how the state-owned entity flits from one crisis to the next, surviving literally from hand to mouth and causing untold brand damage to the airline and Public Enterprises.

Meanwhile, SAA is assisting with affected passengers where possible. 

The SACAA had done the right thing. At no stage or for no reason whatsoever may an airline be allowed to take to the sky if there is any safety risk for crew, passengers or anyone else. Safety concerns must always be the top priority for the company.

The mismanagement of SAX is once again coming under the spotlight. Stranded passengers have not been kept in the loop, the airline’s Twitter feed has given watered-down explanations for the problem and only late yesterday afternoon, following a statement by the SACAA was the whole truth revealed. 

There can be no doubt that the airline’s precarious financial position has led to this embarrassing situation, and insiders are alleging that there is simply not enough money to pay for maintenance. 

It is obvious that the only way to save both the reputations and actual existence of SAX and sister airline SAA is to privatise the failing state owned entity and completely overhaul the management of the airline.

We have reiterated that this is not the fault of the pilots - this amounts to systematic failure by the airline’s management and the Department of Public Enterprises. The state-owned airlines are being run by inexperienced and unqualified management, many of whom are political appointments. Once again, South Africa is put second while the ANC puts itself first.

We are also questioning the proposed merger between SAX and SAA. When it comes to South African state-owned airlines, two wrongs certainly do not make a right. 

The chaos caused by this latest crisis was completely avoidable. We therefore ask the SACAA to brief the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises on its findings, before SAX does the same. Minister of Public Enterprises, Ms Lynne Brown, should also accept responsibility for this mess and insist on the privatisation of our state-owned airlines. 

Statement issued by Natasha Mazzone MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises, 1 May 2016