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SA Express apparently paid R2.4 billion to music promoter, Eldrige Mothlake after he was granted a three-year contract to supply the carrier with fuel.
As indicated by reports by the Sunday Times, two of the carrier’s administrators, Sam Vilakazi and Merriam Mochoele purportedly arranged the arrangement with EML Energy which is claimed by Mothlake.
The arrangement was apparently struck with no formal methods, for example, a delicate procedure and meeting with SA Express board and administration.
Regardless of the arrangement, the aircraft supposedly did not get any fuel. The agreement is currently apparently under scrutiny.
In the interim, the Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan reported on May 24 that South African Airways (SAA), SA Express and Mango are to blend.
“Bringing the airlines together and rationalising their routes are important. Rationalising the kind of aircraft needed at a particular time and day – that’s the experience we’re beginning to learn from airlines around the world,” he said.
“It’s that synergy and savings. Our net guess is that by putting the airlines together, we can go through a transition period where there are going to be difficulties.
“If you have something dysfunctional and (you) try to sell it, you will get little for it. The real challenge is putting the right people in the right places both on boards and management teams, and having the right oversight,” he said.
Additionally, Gordhan announced the appointment of a new SA Express board, chaired by Mmakeaya Magoro Tryphosa Ramano.
A briefing by South African Airways (SAA) to Parliament’s finance committee was called off on May 23 after MPs from the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) clashed on whether the meeting should be closed to the public.
Acting finance committee chairwoman Thandi Tobias stopped SAA executives from presenting its fourth-quarter results, saying a decision was taken at the last meeting of the committee that the meeting be closed, something the DA said never happened.
