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Of course, the real test of the new Board is how they bring their range of experiences and expertise together and operate as a collective, and what they actually do. “We would have liked to see more Board members with aviation expertise, and we certainly think the management should include such people.

The aviation industry is extremely competitive and challenging, and SAA (South African Airways) is severely stressed, so we need to find the best we can,” said the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Mr Yunus Carrim.

The Board needs to ensure that the management is strengthened, the turnaround strategy is improved and effectively implemented, staff morale and productivity are boosted, relations with the trade unions are improved, wastage and corruption are speedily addressed, routes are reviewed for their commercial and developmental value, and fuel-saving aircraft are used.

The National Treasury needs to ensure that it has a clear shareholder compact with SAA and it exercises effective oversight over SAA while giving the Board space to operate without undue political interference.

“We have no choice but to get it right. We simply cannot, especially with such low growth rates, poor revenue and huge stresses on the budget constantly, give SAA bailouts,” said Mr Carrim.

We wish the new Board well!
 

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Yunus Carrim