Allegation of irregularities in SAA sale: consideration of Minister & former DG submissions

Video The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises convened virtually to consider the protected disclosure submitted by the former Director-General in the Department of Public Enterprises. The official alleged that there were irregularities in the sale of South African Airways and asserted that Minister Pravin Gordhan orchestrated the sale of SAA to the benefit of a few privileged individuals in an irregular manner. The matter was referred to the Committee in November 2022 and the Committee heard from both parties. Having considered the evidence submitted by the Minister and the former DG, as well as the input from legal services, the Committee unanimously agreed that it was unable to provide unqualified support for the SAA transaction because it was shrouded in secrecy. The Committee could not fully exercise its oversight duties because the Minister refused to make the documents available which were central to the allegations made by the former DG. The Committee resolved that it would report to the Speaker on its unsuccessful attempts to exercise oversight of the deal.