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"In light of these troubling developments, the DA calls on Cabinet to reject any recommendation to approve John Lamola for the position of SAA CEO when it is presented tomorrow."

The Democratic Alliance (DA) today reported Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Minister Barbara Creecy to the Public Protector, based on reports of their undue political interference in the appointment process for the new CEO of South African Airways (SAA).

According to reports, Minister Creecy is reportedly set to recommend John Lamola, the worst-performing candidate, for the crucial SAA CEO role, despite the board’s recommendation of Allan Kilavuka, the highly qualified and experienced current CEO of Kenya Airways.

The decision to side-line Kilavuka, along with the highest-scoring candidate, Philip Saunders, in favour of Lamola, who ranked the lowest in independent competency assessments, raises serious concerns about the integrity and transparency of the process.

The DA is also deeply troubled by allegations that Deputy President Mashatile and Minister Creecy held private interviews, outside of the formal selection process, at the Deputy President’s official residence.

This apparent attempt to manipulate the outcome in favour of a politically connected candidate undermines due process and mocks the principle that appointments in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) should be based solely on merit, not political affiliation.

Further complicating matters, according to the News24 article, a source with direct knowledge of the interactions between SAA chairperson Derek Hanekom and Minister Creecy revealed that Creecy called Hanekom on 27 October, requesting the board to change its recommendation, which had been communicated to her in a letter dated 18 September. Hanekom reportedly asked if he could bring the matter before the board, leading to a special board meeting being convened that same week. However, the board refused Creecy’s request. Both Creecy and Hanekom have denied that any instruction was given.

This situation raises questions about Hanekom potentially doing the ANC's bidding against the wishes of the SAA Board.

Given these concerns, the DA will submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application for the minutes of this board meeting, as it seems that Hanekom may have been acting in alignment with ANC interests, undermining the independence of the board and its decision-making process.

This intervention is an egregious example of the ANC’s ongoing cadre deployment practices, which the DA has consistently condemned. As outlined in Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s State Capture report, ANC cadre deployment is both unconstitutional and unlawful, and it continues to fuel political patronage while eroding institutional integrity.

This latest scandal at SAA represents yet another chapter in the ANC’s attempt to maintain control over key state institutions for its own political gain, at the expense of good governance and the citizens of South Africa.

In light of these troubling developments, the DA calls on Cabinet to reject any recommendation to approve John Lamola for the position of SAA CEO when it is presented tomorrow.

We will not tolerate the ANC continuing to entrench its political patronage system at the expense of South Africa’s state institutions and public trust.

Issued by Willie Aucamp MP - DA National Spokesperson