South African Airways (SAA) has placed its acting CEO Vuyisile Kona on precautionary suspension.

The airline said its board of directors made the decision after certain allegations came to its attention.

“It must be stressed that the board has not come to any conclusion as to the veracity or otherwise of these allegations,” SAA said in a statement.

Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout would take over as acting CEO until a permanent replacement was recruited.

The airline had started the process to recruit a permanent CEO, with applications already having been received. The board was now evaluating the applications and was confident that it would conclude the process by March 31, at which time recommendations would be presented to Transport Minister Ben Martins.