SAA’s board on Friday placed its Acting Group CEO (GCEO) Matshela Seshibe, who has been at the helm of the airline for only four months, on special leave, with immediate effect, pending the outcome of an internal process.
“The decision reflects the Board’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of good governance, accountability, integrity and leadership.
"It is also consistent with the Board’s responsibility to safeguard the interests of SAA, its employees, customers, partners and other stakeholders while ensuring that the organisation continues to operate with stability and confidence,” the airline said in a statement, without specifying the exact reasons for the “special leave.”
The move follows the airline coming under fire in Parliament three months ago when law-makers lambasted the airline for claiming to have operated profitably in the financial year to March 31, 2025, notwithstanding that the Auditor-General not only questioned the profit, but also raised serious concerns about supply chain management (SCM), mismanagement, critical staff vacancies and accounting issues for the 2024/25 financial year, all of which the airline indicated it wished to remedy.
The AG found that while the airline had made a R30 million profit, its net operating loss was R472m. The airline went into business rescue in December 2019 and came out of the process in April 2021, and also had to deal with flight route cuts and reports of corruption, and disruptions to travel during the Covid years.
Some of the SCM issues related to not applying the required preference point system for some bids, routine procurement of goods and services in a manner not in line with government regulations and policies, and lack of sufficient data about awarded contracts.
“We recognise the responsibility entrusted to us and will continue to act decisively and in the best interests of the airline and all of its stakeholders,” said SAA Board chairperson, Sedzani Mudau.
For leadership continuity and operational stability, the Chief Legal Officer, Koekie Mbeki, was appointed as Acting Group CEO with immediate effect.
Mbeki brings extensive institutional knowledge and experience of SAA, having served the organisation for the past ten years.
“The Board is confident that, in her acting capacity, she will provide the leadership, continuity and stability required as SAA continues to execute its strategy and deliver on its mandate,” the airline said.
Matshela Seshibe was appointed GCEO of SAA in April 2026, immediately following the resignation of Professor John Lamola. Lamola had headed the airline since May 2022, leading the airline through its post-business rescue recovery and aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw large-scale travel and tourism declines.
While the reasons for Lamola’s exit are unclear, there were allegations of improper interference involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Minister Creecy, although a subsequent investigation found those claims to be unsubstantiated.
THE NATIONAL
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