ANCWL wants probe into ‘alarming’ SAA affairs

THE ANC Women’s League has called for a probe into the affairs of South African Airways, which it accused of corruption and failure to transform to include more blacks and women in senior positions and in its dealings.

“ANCWL calls for a judicial commission of inquiry or Parliament inquiry to investigate various disturbing allegations of corruption and anti-transformation at SAA,” said the league in a statement issued by secretary-general Meokgo Matuba.

The league said that of the 225 senior captains employed by SAA, 217 were white men, four were black men and four were white women. It said the employment inequity was repeated in other ranks.

“The ANCWL has noted alarming reports that suggests that SAA is facing internal and external forces who are doing all within their powers to fight any attempts to transform SAA, particularly on procurement and employment equity,” the league said.

“This is done consciously to continue with only white-owned suppliers being major beneficiaries of tenders at SAA. It is also a plan to ensure that only males occupy senior positions at SAA.”

The league claimed that for roughly 80 years, the same five companies have supplied SAA with jet fuel, which it said was an anomaly. It also claimed that retired and resigned pilots from SAA were still receiving benefits even after being employed by other airlines.

The league said it would persuade the government to compel all state-owned enterprises – “through legislation” – to do business only with suppliers who have more than 50 percent black-female ownership. – ANA