Cape Town – The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (NUMSA) has reportedly criticised Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan for refusing to provide Parliament with documents related to the sale of South African Airways (SAA).
Former director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi alleged irregularities in the majority sale of SAA to the Takatso Consortium.
While the parliamentary public enterprises portfolio committee investigates, Gordhan denies any lack of transparency or fairness in the sale.
According to EWN, NUMSA argues that Gordhan mishandled state-owned entities and accuses him of overseeing a secretive sale, labeling it “State Capture 2.0”.
The union contends that SAA was sold for R51, and they demand detailed information on the deal.
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“Numsa is vindicated because Gordhan has proven that we were right about him all along.
“Gordhan is presiding over State Capture 2.0 through the sale of SAA. The airline was sold for R51 in a process that remains shrouded in secrecy, even though this is a state-owned entity, which means that, as the public, we have every right to demand and receive detailed information on this deal,” the report quoted NUMSA’s spokesperson Phakamile-Hlubi Majola as saying.
In a statement last week, the department of public enterprises (DPE) reiterated the important role of Parliament’s conduct, but refuted the claims of non-cooperation with the Portfolio Committee in its examination of the transaction for SAA.
“The Department of Public Enterprises has done everything according to the prescripts of the law.
“There is no information that is within our legal remit to provide on the SAA transaction that the DPE has withheld from Parliament. All our engagements with the Portfolio Committee attest our committment to cooperate fully on every aspect of the work,” the DPE said.
DPE Refutes Claims Regarding Portfolio Committee’s Requests for SAA Deal Documents. pic.twitter.com/sf9jPStQBv
— DPE_ZA (@DPE_ZA) December 14, 2023
The portfolio committee on public enterprises revealed that their investigation had stalled because Gordhan had failed to cooperate with them and hand over documents, IOL reported.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
