Erwin says government stands by SAA

THE government has no plans to sell South African Airways (SAA), said public enterprises minister Alec Erwin on September 14, according to Reuters. "There is no strategic logic in trying to sell SAA to another operator. It's viable, we are in a good position, we need to strengthen, we need to run it well," Erwin reportedly told a parliamentary committee. The government owns 95% of SAA through Transport group Transnet. SAA employees hold the remaining 5%. "If we can have support in private money we will look at that, but selling it outright, we are not going to do," said Erwin. "Let's be realistic, South Africa as an economy of the size that it is, needs a carrier that provides a reasonably comprehensive service and needs to have control over what is going to happen," he added. (Lucy Siebert)