Johannesburg. 6 February 2009
The Board of South African Airways (SAA) held a scheduled meeting today where documentation forwarded by trade union Satawu to the Public Enterprises Ministry was discussed.
The Board viewed the allegations in a serious light, and has agreed to establish a committee of non-executive directors. Their mandate is to immediately engage an independent, external agency to conduct an indepth investigation into, amongst others, the following issues as they relate to SAA’s CEO and members of the Executive Committee:
- The issue of retention premiums;
- Alleged issues of a conflict of interest;
- Issues of procurement
The Board has noted that SAA Chief Executive Officer Khaya Ngqula has welcomed the investigation, and further that he insisted that it should be undertaken. Dr Ngqula and members of SAA’s Executive Committee have undertaken to co-operate fully with the investigators.
Board chairman Jakes Gerwel has informed the Public Enterprises Minister of the Board’s decision.
Issued on behalf of SAA’s Board