South Africa's independent corruption watchdog, Special Investigation Unit (SIU), has announced it has officially added South African Airlines (SA, Johannesburg, or Tambo) to its list of state agencies being investigated for allegations of “serious mismanagement, corruption, or tort.” No details have been revealed.
In a statement on March 28, SIU said President Cyril Ramaphosa had signed an amendment to the declaration that authorizes the unit to expand the scope of the SAA investigation with the aim of reconciliation of the financial losses suffered by the state.
The amendment to Declaration No. R.206 for 2024 stated that “formally adding South African aviation as a state agency will investigate the serious mismanagement of home countries, corruption and illegal conduct in these national facilities issues.”
Ch-Aviation reached out to SAA and SIU for comment.
In March 2024, we asked the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Public Enterprises in South Africa to investigate the Takatsuso Consortium for the failure of SAA sales of 51%. This follows a complaint from Public Enterprise Directorate Kgathatso Thlakudi, who alleged fraud in Takatoso's dealings and questioned the national airline's valuation.
In 2021, CH-Aviation reported that SIU was investigating 84 SAA contracts and 44 aircraft leases, excavating contractual fraud, such as pricing. Fronting; Conflict of interest on the part of SAA staff. Fictitious vendors, work orders, bank accounts. Overpaying; Undelivery; and Non-Performance.
Among the most notable cases was when late SAA Chairman Dude Mini tried to involve a third-party lease company in its 2015 contract with Airbus.
Other state-owned companies currently being investigated by SIU include South African Broadcasting Company, power provider Eskom, fuel provider Petrosa, National Rail Company Transnet, Department of Human Settlements, Diamond Mining Company Alexkor, and the South African Council of Educators.
