Mboweni asks Twitter to help with the SAA dilemma
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni took to Twitter on Sunday evening, asking for comments, ideas and opinions on the future of the embattled South African Airways (SAA).
In October, Mboweni announced another R10.5 billion rand government bail-out during his medium term budget speech in Parliament, in order to ensure the completion of the restructuring process at the national airline.
It’s led to an outcry by opposition political parties.
However, on Sunday evening it became clear that the Minister is convinced that this is the right flight path for government.
Mboweni took to Twitter on Sunday night to ask: "Ok. What should we do on SAA?"
Ok. What should we do on SAA?
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) November 22, 2020
The minister received a plethora of responses - the main sentiment being that he should privatise the airline.
We don't need it. Privatize. Privatize. Privatize. That'll bring us more money. Currently, it's a liability we can not afford to maintain. It's not serving our people. How does SAA help to address the questions of poverty, unemployment and inequality, our three main tasks?
— Sibulele♡☆♡☆♡koQhudeni (@SbuKaMvelase) November 23, 2020
Sell it. I don't see it benefiting SA except politicians who ride it for free.
— Phathu Maumela (@pgmaumela) November 23, 2020
Again: Follow the example of @FlySWISS and privatize. It was a painful experience at the time, Heidi was certainly crying when SWISSAIR “died” and people thought the Swiss pride would die with it. @flySAA_US with @flyethiopian and others could create a powerful African Airline ✈️
— Christoph 🇿🇦🇨🇭🏳️🌈 (@stoephel) November 23, 2020
Some users online suggested the minister takes the matter to Cabinet and not Twitter.
Go and ask your Cabinet members, here u are asking wrong people pic.twitter.com/b3P4Igfthm
— Surprise Golela🇿🇦❤️🏳️🌈 (@Surprise_Golela) November 22, 2020
Pakes Dikgetsi reminded the minister that some of the people who voted for the minister, cannot afford to fly.
"The poorest of the poor, your constituency, doesn't fly. They need bus and taxi subsidies to go to work."
If this is not heard, I give up! On my grave, “Here is a man who tried and failed to explain market economics. May His Soul Rest In Iternal Peace “.
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) November 22, 2020
