Former South African Airways (SAA) chief executive officer Khaya Ngqula was paid a total of R13,651-million in the past financial year, it emerged on Tuesday.

According to SAA's 2009 annual report - tabled in Parliament - Ngqula was paid a salary of R3,831-million and termination of contract benefits of R9,35-million.

The balance was made up of fund contributions and a retention premium.

On Monday, SAA board chairman Jakes Gerwel said significant progress had been made into investigating the alleged mismanagement of the former chief executive officer.

Gerwel told the media that a preliminary report had been completed by auditors KPMG.

"This preliminary report has been handed to the SAA board," he said.

"The forensic report is not complete, but we are closer to finalisation," Gerwel said.

Asked when a new chief executive officer would be appointed, Gerwel said a professional recruitment firm had been appointed to assist with the process.

"The appointment should happen soon," he said, confirming that acting chief executive officer Chris Smyth was one of the candidates.

Earlier, SAA said it had reported a surprise profit for the year ending March 2009 due to fundamental restructuring. Net profit came in at R398-million against a net loss after restructuring costs of R1,085-billion previously, the airline said.

Later on Tuesday, Democratic Alliance spokesman Manie van Dyk said the payment to Ngqula was "a slap in the public's face", as he was under investigation for mismanagement, conflict of interest and procurement irregularities.

Ngqula was paid the settlement amount despite SAA posting an operating loss of R72-million for 2007/08, when the airline was under his management.

"The payment is a slap in the face of the South African taxpayer and the ANC government shows no signs of adopting the requisite attitude necessary to address the problem," he said.

Ngqula's payment followed the R12-million paid to former SABC chief executive officer Dali Mpofu on his exit from the public broadcaster, despite it being some R800-million in the red.

"No doubt SAA was legally obliged to pay Ngqula out for his contract but, increasingly, there seems to be a trend at state-owned enterprises whereby poor management is rewarded with huge payouts.

"The consequence of this is that the public has to pay twice for poor management," Van Dyk said.