SAA sale to Takatso ‘corrupt’
EFF leader Julius Malema has labelled the controversial sale of SAA to the Takatso Consortium, led by Harith chairperson Tshepo Mahloele, corrupt.
Yesterday, Malema told a post central command team media briefing that his party would take legal action to stop the deal because it was part of a plan by President Ramaphosa's government to incapacitate and subsequently sell state-owned enterprises.
It has since emerged that the government sold its controlling stake to Takatso Consortium for R51. The national carrier's value was apparently not determined and its financial statements not released for years.
The deal has been questioned by opposition parties and the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa). Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan told Parliament last week that the SAA deal was not final.
Malema told journalists his party was consulting with its lawyers to urgently stop the sale of SAA to Takatso Consortium, which he said was a “politically connected group” linked to “white capitalists” in South Africa.
Mahloele is also the owner of Arena Holdings, publishers of Sunday Times, Business Day and Sowetan newspapers.
“We have referred the matter to our lawyers to reverse the deal. You can't sell an airline for R51. Not even a single plane costs R51 or a part of it. We are going to reverse the deal. SAA should not be for sale,” Malema said.
“We condemn and oppose the disposal of SAA because its disposal is not justifiable and corrupt. There is absolutely no rationality on selling off an airline for R51 to people who are linked to and controlled by the white capitalist establishment.”
Department of Public Enterprises spokesperson Richard Mantu was adamant that they would not be commenting on the statements by the EFF leader. Khaya Buthelezi of Harith said the Takatso Consortium would not comment on Malema's utterances.
“Please be advised we will not be commenting on this,” he said.
However, Buthelezi said the Takatso Consortium “looks forward to reaching financial close of the SAA transaction, subject to relevant regulatory approvals.” He referred Pretoria News to a statement released by the consortium last week.
In the statement, Takatso had welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's “recent public support for the consortium's acquisition of a 51% interest in SAA – signalling a firm commitment from government to conclude the transaction”.
“Takatso shares government's view that the transaction will be an eminent example of a public/private partnership in one of South Africa's most important sectors. The relaunch of SAA will be without further recourse to the SA taxpayer, save for the business rescue obligations, which remain the responsibility of the current shareholder.
“With the support of National Treasury and the Department of Public Enterprises, this brings us a step closer to reaching financial close of this milestone transaction in the aviation sector.
“We remain committed to a strong partnership with government and to see this transaction concluded successfully.
“The proposed transaction has been structured in a manner that provides SAA with the greatest chance of success and allows for appropriate risk and reward sharing between the public and private partners of the new SAA on a continuing basis,” said the Takatso statement, released on May 12.
Malema added: “While our people are getting poorer, the current government has surrendered all power to the white capitalist establishment.”