Political opposition parties said government could not delay any longer on finding an equity partner for SAA, as MPs debated the latest crisis at the national carrier in the National Assembly.
Parliament - Political opposition parties on Tuesday said government could not delay any longer on finding an equity partner for South African Airways, as members of Parliament debated the latest crisis at the national carrier in the National Assembly.
African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart said it was time to cry halt after extending lifelines of a total R59 billion to the airline over a period of 23 years and urged Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan to pull the plug. "Honourable minister, right now is the time for the hard decisions. We need to invite those equity partners before there is nothing left," Swart said.
He said the wage increase settlement of 5.9 percent agreed last week at SAA smacked of irony because the company could not pay it unless it secured still more state funding. Passengers were left stranded earlier this month by a standoff between management and trade unions who demanded an eight percent wage increase, while Gordhan warned that even without a hike the company was not sure it could make salary payments.
"The irony is that they have been granted such an obscene increase by giving away other people's money."
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