SAA execs quit over 'deeply personal' nature of SSA vetting process, inquiry hears
Johannesburg - The Zondo commission has heard how South African Airways executives were subjected to invasive and personal questions by the State Security Agency as part of the agencies' efforts to protect access to classified information.
SSA evaluator and analyst Nokunqoba Dlamini took the stand at the inquiry on Wednesday. The inquiry is probing aviation-related testimony this week. The commission's evidence leader Kate Hofmeyr explained that in 2015 discussions between the then minister of state security, David Mahlobo, and former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene it was decided that SAA executives had to be vetted in line with SSA's mandate.
Dlamini explained to the inquiry that legislation governing the SSA required that executives of state-owned enterprises should be vetted before they occupy a position. This was to protect the state from individuals who were not qualified or dangerous in handling sensitive classified state information.
When the decision to vet the officials was taken a list of 13 executives was sent by Nene's office to SSA to be checked. When Dlamini, who was the project manager of the SSA vetting project, got access to the list of officials it had been extended to include SAA support staff. A total of 118 SAA employees were subjected to the vetting process.
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