Public Enterprises hits back at pilots over SAA vaccine flight to Brussels

The Department of Public Enterprises has defended the decision to spend R5 million on a South African Airways (SAA) flight to Brussels to fetch Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

 

The decision has been criticised by the South African Airways Pilots Association (SAAPA).

 

"Over time cargo will become a profitable business,” the department said in a statement on Friday.

 

“Partnerships with the private sector will be considered at the appropriate time. These flights will become commercially viable. The current flight carried goods to Brussels and will bring back the vaccine and more cargo on the return leg and this was to ensure that the flight and the overall operation is cost-effective.

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"Claims by detractors, including officials of SAAPA and a small clique of ‘commentators’ that the flight was an expensive exercise are devoid of the truth and only seeks to sabotage the ongoing strategic role of SAA Cargo in the national effort to transport vaccines and other valuable cargo into the country.”

 

The Department has accused SAAPA of having an axe to grind due to its dispute with the flag carrier and its business rescuers.

 

"This is all being done to protect the extortionist regulatory agreement, which ensured that pilots who are 11% of SAA staff get a massive 65% of the salary bill, and certain strategic decisions at the airline could not be effected without their consent.

 

“For the DPE and SAA business rescue practitioners, the agreement is not only unlawful because it holds back the transformation and does not allow the progress of black pilots as designated in the Employment Equity Act.”