"We only found out about the resignations through the media. Our main focus is to ensure that SAA remains a national asset for both our economy and country," Gigaba's spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete said.

Tshwete confirmed the resignations and said new board members will be announced at SAA's annual general meeting.

SAA's chairwoman, Cheryl Carolus and the six board members resigned earlier this week.

"The board has just become untenable, our reputation and professional integrity had just been dragged through the mud without any clarification or support and I believe this had reached a point where the relationship has been broken irretrievably," Carolus was quoted as saying on SAFM.

Business Day on Friday reported that the former Johannesburg Stock Exchange chief executive Russel Loubser was the first member to quit. He resigned with immediate effect on Wednesday, citing lack of support from the department of public enterprises – the airline's shareholder.

Of SAA's 14-member board, eight have resigned so far. The board members who told Carolus they were leaving with her are Bonang Mohale, David Lewis, Jabulani Ndlovu, Louis Rabbets, Magaret Whitehouse and Teddy Daka.