Numsa: Govt to blame for SA Express collapse
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) believes government must carry the can for SA Express’ dire financial state.
SA Express’ business rescue practitioners recently filed a court application to have the ailing state-owned airline liquidated.
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The government is yet to decide whether it will oppose the application.
The company's interim CEO Siza Mzimela is also leaving the airline after just 18 months "to pursue other options".
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi- Majola says Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan cannot distance himself from the airline’s failures.
“We must not mince our words. The destruction of SA Express is because government, as the shareholder, is not committed to saving our state-owned entities, especially those in aviation.
“It is shameful that under the watch of Pravin Gordhan, as Minister of Public Enterprises, SA Express is being liquidated, and SAA and Eskom are in ICU.”
Hlubi-Majola believes looting and corruption in government is also partly to blame.
“We always suspected that eventually. The rampant looting and corruption, which government as the shareholder consistently turned a blind eye to for many years, would be the death knell of our SOE’s.”