The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse said the country could not afford to keep SAA as a wholly government-owned entity.
"Just as we did with Telkom, the time has arrived to allow an external partner with experience in efficient airline management to take a stake in the airline, if it is going to survive," said Outa's executive director, Heinrich Volmink."It presupposed an exchange rate of R10 to the US dollar, but the exchange rate is 50% higher. It also presupposes the fuel price of $40 per barrel. It is currently at $80 dollars," he said.
Louw said the turnaround plan did not factor in the recapitalisation of the SAA fleet, which was estimated to be in the region of R50bn to R60bn. He is of the view that SAA cannot be rescued. He said the R21bn that Jarana requested asked from Treasury was the equivalent of 100,000 RDP houses.The SAA’s response on the wager will be added to this article when it is received.
Hats off to Jarana for confidence in his capabilities, that he took up Louw on the wager. The upside now is that charity or charities are about to receive a helping hand - thanks to his audacity.