Treasury to reveal details of Airbus deal
THE National Treasury has confirmed that it will announce details of the Airbus swap deal in the next day or two.
Tomorrow is D-day for SAA chairwoman Dudu Myeni and her board to sign a revised contract with the French aircraft manufacturer, to save SAA from having to cough up $100million (about R1.5-billion) in predelivery payments due.
The deal, approved by the Treasury months ago, has stalled because of resistance from the SAA board — the clash was widely seen as the last straw for President Jacob Zuma when he fired Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister two weeks ago.
In a scathing letter earlier this month, Nene had ordered SAA to sign the deal, but Myeni, who is close to Zuma, refused, and insisted on getting an unknown local financier into the deal.
Newly appointed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had discussions with Myeni just days after he took over from David van Rooyen.
Myeni and her board had initially planned to petition Van Rooyen to reverse Nene’s decision on the Airbus deal, but there was no time as he was moved to another portfolio just four days after his appointment.
“Minister [Gordhan] indicated at the press conference that he would, within 24 hours, speak telephonically to the SAA chair. That conversation did indeed take place. We will release a statement on this issue on or around December 21,” said Treasury spokeswoman Phumza Macanda.
The Sunday Times has established that the two again spoke on Thursday, the same day that SAA officials met with representatives from Airbus in South Africa.
SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said the airline’s executive had met with Airbus on Thursday — but did not divulge further details.
He said the airline had also been in constant communication with the Treasury. “A full statement will be issued on or around December 21 once all the discussions on all the immediate matters have been concluded.”