Solidarity: ‘Fruitful’ meeting with SAA business rescue practitioner

Trade union Solidarity has described as fruitful a meeting with South African Airline’s (SAA) newly appointed business rescue practitioner Les Matuson and attorneys representing the airline’s board.

The SAA board earlier appointed Matuson, from Matuson Associates, to head up the carrier’s voluntary business rescue process.

The embattled state-owned airline confirmed the appointment on Friday morning.

On Wednesday, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan confirmed that SAA would be placed under business rescue with immediate effect.

Solidarity's Dirk Hermann says the meeting was called after unions expressed their unhappiness at the lack of consultation in the appointment of a business rescue practitioner.

"We had the discussion and we proposed a couple of things, such as who must be on the team, the importance of independence, the importance of the role of labour and the importance of international experts on the team.”

Solidarity says Matuson assured them that he will engage former SAA CEO Vuyani Jarana to see how he is able to assist in the process of trying to save the airline.