Fire Miyeni and sell SAA say Democratic Alliance
The Democratic Alliance says that a report revealing that South African Airways’ annual financial losses have increased from R2.5bn to R4.7bn compared to the last financial year‚ reaffirms the party’s call for SAA chairperson Dudu Miyeni to be fired and for the "money-sucking"state-owned airline to be privatised. DA spokesperson on public enterprises Natasha Mazzone said on Sunday she would therefore write to the Minister of Finance‚ Nhlanhla Nene‚ imploring him to begin the process of selling off SAA.“It is no longer tenable for the people of South Africa to continue to fund SAA and Ms Miyeni’s perpetual mismanagement‚” Mazzone asserted.It was confirmed earlier this month that SAA has made a further loss of R648 million in the first six months of the current financial year and is looking for further guarantees from government to the tune of R5 billion so it can finalise its 2014-15 financial statements. This follows Treasury granting SAA a further guarantee of R6.5 billion just last December.“At a time when service delivery is falling by the wayside‚ the future of the country’s students at higher learning institutions is being compromised and job opportunities decreasing year on year‚ the government can no longer afford to keep SAA in the air. “SAA has become accustomed to blank cheques from Treasury to fund an airline which shows no clear signs of recovery at the expense of funding programs to grow our economy‚ increase our national skills base‚ and ultimately create jobs‚” Mazzone said. She said it would be amiss to label SAA a state asset as it was in fact a state liability.“The burden for propping up SAA can no longer be placed on the shoulders of taxpayers‚ who would rather see increased funding for the delivery of quality services‚ the funding of higher education and among other things‚ the refurbishment and building of better healthcare facilities.“The DA will not stand idle while the people’s money is mismanaged. The ANC must get their priorities straight and put the people of South Africa first‚” Mazzone added...
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.