Trade union Solidarity’s officially announced yesterday it would apply to the High Court for an order to place SAA in a business rescue process under the Companies Act, notes a Business Day report. Earlier this week it invited Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene to join its application.

Solidarity has 350 members at SAA and is not recognised by the airline. The five recognised unions at SAA have all rejected Solidarity’s proposed court action, saying in a joint statement that a business rescue process would not be in the best interests of the workers.

The unions support SAA CEO Vuyani Jarana, the board and the turnaround strategy under way at the national carrier.

Meanwhile, SAA says it has made a number of new appointments as it implements a turnaround strategy, according to BusinessLIVE. Bob Head is acting as chief financial officer from this week while Hendus Venter takes on the role of chief information officer next month, having joined from African Bank, SAA said.

Pumla Luhabe joined as chief commercial officer in February, according to SAA. Jarana said in March the cash-strapped carrier will probably break even in 2020 after its net loss widened more than three-fold to R5.6bn in the 2017 financial year.

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