Trade unions slam Mboweni’s SAA comments

The minister was speaking at the investor conference in New York.

Mboweni said there is no need for the state to run an airline it cannot afford.

"There only thing I would request it’s that give us the colours, like British Airways," says Mboweni.

Mboweni explained it is unlikely private sectors investors who would partner with SAA due to its dire financial state.

"In all sorts of assets, we own as a state, we are prepared to have private partners."

SAA received R5 billion cash injection during Mboweni’s recent medium-term budget policy statement.

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South African trade unions have slammed Mboweni remarks to sell SAA.

Congress of South African Trade Unions' (Cosatu) Sizwe Pamla says the union find it challenging to engage with Mboweni on economic matters.

"He wakes and talks about ideas without consulting anyone," says Pamla.

Pamla says the issue of state-owned companies is essential and firstly needs to be discussed among the governing party alliance partners before public pronouncements are made in public.

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South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) shares the sentiment, arguing that shutting down SAA will lead to more unemployment crises in the country.

Saftu's spokesperson, Patrick Craven, says the country cannot afford to see hundred more workers unemployment.

"It’s shows the hypocrisy of organising a jobs summits and taking steps that would lead to more jobs lose," says Craven.

Craven says the union will fight the implementation of shutting down of SAA.

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