SA Express liquidators ‘allergic to oversight and accountability’ – Scopa
The liquidators of SA Express has been lashed by outraged members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday.
The pair was expected to brief Scopa together with the Department of Public Enterprises on the airline’s liquidation process, but were a no-show.
The committee’s chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said their absence is a clear dereliction of duty.
“The liquidators and business rescue practioners, when they come into the entity, they become the accounting officers. Therefore they are responsible for the affairs of the entity and are duty-bound to be appearing before Parliament as and when they are called upon to do so.
“Failure to do that is a dereliction of duty, it is reckless and irresponsible.”
He added: “The fact the we find ourselves in this situation again today is indicative of people who have got an allergy to oversight and accountability.”
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The airline went into provisional liquidation in April, giving the liquidators time to salvage the airline.
Earlier on Tuesday, the High Court in Johannesburg granted the airline a 3-month extension, allowing the provisional liquidators more time to get their affairs in order by September 9.
But Hlengwa believes this is no excuse.
“We are not going to have a run-away train situation,” he said.
“Their absence today is totally unacceptable.”
The meeting was prematurely adjourned and will convene again next week Wednesday.
The committee agreed to prepare a subpoena which will take effect if they fail to pitch at next week’s meeting.