Despite the suspension of SAA’s chief medical officer Dr Nonhlanhla Sishaba for unlawfully issuing medical clearances to flight crew members for months after being stripped of her Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (Dame) status, it has been found that only three staffers at the national carrier are affected.
SAA spokesperson Khaya Buthelezi said an assessment had been carried out on airline personnel who were examined and issued with medical fitness certificates by Sishaba and it was established that only “two cabin crew members and one pilot have been negatively affected by Sishaba’s alleged improper and fraudulent behaviour”.
He said this would not affect SAA’s operations and the staffers would be medically recertified by the end of the month as directed by SAA internal processes and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The CAA told TimesLIVE Premium Sishaba was found to have been filing substandard investigation reports last year and was issued a fine which she had paid. Her Dame certification expired in March and was not renewed by the CAA. However, she continued to issue medical certificates — not just for SAA staff but for other aviation professionals as well.
CAA spokesperson Phindi Gwebu said Sishaba filed 135 unlawful certifications. All the affected personnel had been informed their certificates were invalid and they were instructed to go for re-examinations by qualified Dames within 15 days.
SAA declined to say when Sishaba was suspended. Gwebu said Sishaba’s misconduct had been picked up by the CAA because she bypassed the new system and managed to upload her medical clearance certificates onto the database manually. She had since been blocked from the system.
CAA director Poppy Khoza issued a warning notice to the aviation industry that personnel who underwent examinations by Sishaba should undergo a proper reassessment.
We view these allegations in a serious light as they have a direct impact on the ability of aviation personnel to perform their duties in a safe manner as prescribed by civil aviation regulations
— Poppy Khoza, CAA director
South Africa’s civil aviation regulations state the director of civil aviation may designate medical practitioners to conduct medical examinations on aviation personnel including pilots, air traffic controllers, cabin crew and flight engineers on behalf of the CAA. This is to ensure they meet the required standards for a valid licence. The director considers redesignation only for medical practitioners who have demonstrated satisfactory performance during previous designation periods.
In terms of the CAA Act, aviation personnel are required to regularly undergo prescribed medical assessments to ensure their health status is compatible with their roles and licences. Examination certificates are valid for a year for staff under 40 and are required every six months after age 40.
“We view these allegations in a serious light as they have a direct impact on the ability of aviation personnel to perform their duties in a safe manner as prescribed by civil aviation regulations,” Khoza said.
“South Africa’s aviation sector boasts an exemplary safety record, with no fatal accidents in the scheduled airline sector in nearly 40 years. While our investigations are continuing we cannot ignore these findings. Ensuring the safety of aviation services is our priority and we will pursue all available legal measures to resolve this issue swiftly.”
Gwebu said the CAA is considering reporting Sishaba to the Health Professions Council and laying criminal charges.
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