Johannesburg - South African Airways (SAA) has been plunged
into crisis after its chairperson Cheryl Carolus and six other board member
resigned, Business Day reported.
This after Public Enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba
cancelled the national carrier's annual general meeting this week and his
request to Parliament for a two-month postponement of the tabling of is annual
report.
Carolus told the publication last night it was “with a lot
of careful thought and consideration” that she had taken this “extraordinary”
step.
“There has been a breakdown in the relationship with the
shareholder. I thought we had agreed on a strategy. I’m finding it frustrating
that this notion continues to exist that there is no strategic vision on the
table at SAA.”
Former JSE CEO Russel Loubser was the first board member to
quit, citing a lack of support from the Department of Public Enterprises, the
report said.
So far eight of the 14-member board have resigned.
"After careful thought I also decided to resign, along
with other members of the board. These are just the people who indicated to me
that they will resign,” Carolus was quoted as saying.
“I believe in the airline, I believe it is a critical
national asset at the southern tip of the hemisphere. It will always be an
airline that is tough to run,” she said.
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