Johannesburg - Duduzile Myeni has been appointed acting chairperson of SA Airways (SAA) with immediate effect, the department of public enterprises said on Friday.
Spokesperson Richard Mantu said she was expected to reinforce leadership stability at SAA, and initiate a robust recruitment process for the appointment of the new CEO, to ensure continuity in the airlines business operations.
"The department will continue to exercise its shareholder oversight and ask the difficult questions to ensure SAA is sustainable and commercially viable," he said.
The department also said Vuyisile Kona has been appointed as the acting CEO.
Mantu said Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba, at a recent board meeting, reviewed the status of the current executive chairperson.
"Minister Gigaba thereby announces that Mr Vuyisile Kona will assume the position of acting CEO, as opposed to the previous position of executive chairperson, owing to adherence to the principles of good corporate governance," said spokesman Richard Mantu.
The DA said Myeni was a Zuma ally and her appointment was another gross example of the ANC's "jobs for friends" ideology.
"In an act of brazen disregard for the well-being of public funds, Minister Gigaba is set to prove once again that under the Zuma government, it's not what you know, it's who you know," said Natasha Michael, DA shadow public enterprises minister.
Myeni was previously the chair of the Mhlathuze Water Board in KwaZulu-Natal.