That was in stark contrast to figures supplied to Independent Newspapers by SAA last week, The Star reported on Tuesday.
The airline said that according to its figures, about 6 600 of its passengers would have their luggage stolen each year.
According to Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin, most of the luggage - 7 617 items - disappeared from OR Tambo International Airport, while 178 SAA passengers at Cape Town International Airport lost their luggage.
Erwin's department supplied the figures in response to a parliamentary question put to Erwin by the Democratic Alliance spokesperson on public enterprises, Manie van Dyk.
Erwin's response was contained in a written reply, and consisted of three tables. The first detailed pilferage and theft; the second dealt with damaged baggage; and the third with "disappearances".
Erwin noted that baggage handling was "the joint responsibility of a firm contracted by SAA and the Airports Company South Africa".
- Sapa