Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has requested Parliament grant an extension until September 15 to table South African Airways’ (SAA’s) annual financial statement (AFS), the National Treasury said on Thursday.

The national airliner’s AFS could not be finalised until a decision had been made on its December updated application for a going concern guarantee.

“Given the potential implication for the sovereign and for the economy the matter has required extensive and careful consideration,” said the Treasury.