Cape Town – Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan says he will not be rushed or “bullied” into approving the sale of the struggling airline Mango.
This follows a court order that compelled Gordhan to make a decision on the sale within 30 days, or else the sale would proceed without his approval.
The minister reiterated his commitment to following the law and policies governing his oversight of state-owned companies.
In his statement, Gordhan said he “will not be cowed to submit to pressure that certain elements, with zero regard for public interest, sought to exert on him and the department regarding the business rescue process of Mango Airlines, a subsidiary of SAA”.
“My duty as the executive authority is to safeguard the interests of South Africans. At no point will I abandon my fiduciary responsibility to ensure that any decision that is taken regarding the future of Mango is consistent with the prescripts of the law and is in the best interest of the public,” said Gordhan.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says he won’t rush into a decision on the sale of Mango Airlines. The High Court last week gave him just 30 days to decide after long delays. But Gordhan insists he still needs more information. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/HThyxV5JSl
— eNCA (@eNCA) September 12, 2023
“The issues around this case evolve around my request for further information from the business rescue practitioner. This is what the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) requires in order to make a judiciously sound decision. I will not be bullied to act in a manner that will compromise the work of government in this regard,” he added.
Gordhan had previously delayed approval for Mango’s sale for almost a year and was criticised for being irrational in a recent court ruling.
Mango has been under business rescue for nearly two years, and the process to find a new owner began in earnest in September 2022.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
