For the last 32 months there has been an enquiry happening in South Africa called the Zondo Commission looking into State Capture. I haven't paid that much attention to it as it wears a bit thin after nearly 3 years. I tend to prick my ears up when certain names I know peak my interest.
Today the Commission has been listening to evidence regarding South African Airways and some irregularities. After listening to about an hour of "evidence" as it can be confusing with these individuals trying to not answer the questions exactly as they are answered.
The South African Government has a Black Economic Empowerment policy commonly known as BEE forcing companies to comply with this in order to do business. What never makes sense is the built in parts that are forced on companies to be compliant as costs will only soar through the roof.
Swiss Port is a service provider at the airports and were told by the board no contract would be renewed and would be put to tender. What is surprising or not really is that an agreement was reached giving them 5 years without going to tender. GPU's or Ground Power Units were requested to be supplied where the corruption came in. One of the SAA Board members was given a R4.3 million ($250 000) back hand.
Back in 2014 I was busy negotiating a deal with the Airport Authority which is SAA and never got to see a recognised person in charge. This is how they try and protect themselves by using buffers. These so called negotiators work 3 days a week and are not permanent staff but could run the business as they do all the work. The people in charge have these people doing their jobs and only when there is something that can be made extra will they suddenly appear.
This was very apparent during the negotiation phase and why the hearings today were quite interesting. Swiss Port was told they were not compliant and were threatened back in 2015 with losing 30 percent of their business for BEE purposes. Quite amazing Board members only become involved with operational matters when they have no business being there.
I know the guy mentioned today in the hearing as I met him at Swiss Port a few years ago. He must have been given a way out to do business as they as a company had been backed into a corner. This is how they get away with things by using bully boy tactics in order to enrich themselves and then act ignorant when caught out. The board member today is a chartered accountant yet somehow never saw any contracts yet saw the terms and conditions. They are part of the contract so it is one big web of lies and is just wasting peoples time and money now.
The National Airline will never make profit with incompetent people being in charge and the BEE policy doesn't work as it enriches a select few and not the people that really need it. The airline will open up at some point and can only hope they employ people who know what they are doing which is very doubtful as it will just be a repeat of what happened before. I only hope these individuals are prosecuted and imprisoned for their actions sending out a warning to others who maybe contemplating trying their luck.
Government taxes are there to be used to create a flow of jobs and money back into the market place and without that money returning, things suddenly become much quieter. This has been going on too long now and the economy has suffered for the sake of certain individuals who have been raping the country.
