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Cape Town - Skywise Airlines announced the appointment of Faizal Motlekar as new chair.
Motlekar is a South African and African entrepreneur. As the founder and chair of Motlekar Holdings, he is well-known in the South African, African and international business circles, Skywise said in a statement.
He leads a multi-disciplinary, independent and 100% black-owned private equity investment holding company.
"It has a diversified investment portfolio underpinned by a solid pursuit to make significant and measurable strides in transformation and economic justice in South Africa," said Skywise.
In September Skywise said it was in the final stages of a shareholder deal with new investors. Co-chairs Tabassum Qadir and Javed Malik have both stepped down at the time.
"Motlekar Holdings' collective insights into global business practices and its relentless quest to restore dignity amongst South Africans will motivate Skywise to be positioned strategically on African continent," said Skywise.
Motlekar said he is bringing to Skywise his vast experience with global perspectives in South African and African investment.
"The expansion won't be without major challenges. The company will have to set up a large amount of infrastructure in order to support its newly introduced fleet," he said.
"To do that we will have to have spares and technical support, a customer support infrastructure to be able to support planes manufactured in China."
Skywise said its vision is of becoming a leading aviation industry player bringing into its fold additional stakeholders to strengthen its position through the expansion of Chinese aircraft in Africa.
Airports Company SA (Acsa) suspended Skywise's flights on December 2 2015 due to unpaid airport charges for landing, take off, parking of aircraft and related service charges. At that time Skywise had already appealed to President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters, Acsa and South African Airways for assistance. It also sought investors.
In April this year Skywise said six companies had expressed interest in a sizeable acquisition in Skywise. Of the six, four were foreign-based, while two were from South Africa, Skywise said at the time.
Skywise brand ambassador at the time, Ndileka Mandela, a granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, also expressed the wish that the authorities would resolve the issue of the grounding of Skywise flights.
Acsa has maintained all along that its decisions regarding Skywise were taken in its own best commercial interests, and to ensure the sustainability of the aviation industry.
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