By Thys Khiba
Pretoria – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned and responded to the privatisation of the South African Airways (SAA) by saying that President Cyril Ramaphosa is primarily focusing on the program of ‘engineering’ a crisis in order for him to privatise national assets.
This follows the announcement by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan confirming that 51% Ownership and Control of the SAA has been sold to Takatso Consortium, leaving the department of Public Enterprises (DPE) with a 49% stake in the airline.
“By the time the term of Ramaphosa ends, all basic needs of this country will be operated by private capital whose interests and loyalty is solely to profit,” said EFF National Spokesperson Vuyani Pambo.
According to the EFF the 51% ownership and control of the SAA sold to Takatso Consortium is an indication that the program to auction all State-Owned Entities (SOEs) is being fast-tracked.
“It is ironic that a company that has been deliberately sabotaged for over a decade, and cited an non-profitable, is appealing enough to private capital to invest R3 billion in it,” said Pambo.
Pambo confirmed that their political party will be intensifying mobilisation in defence of SOEs, and it is also calling on all South Africans to rally behind the fight against the ‘effective recolonization and auctioning’ of South Africa.
The DPE has pronounced the partnership with Takatso Consortium as a demonstration of the government’s ability to develop an entirely ‘homegrown solution’ to successfully relaunch the SAA as a sustainable, competitive and transformed airline.
“Government will retain a ‘golden share’ in SAA which will ensure that the flag is retained, that it remains domiciled in the country and issues such as transformation goals remain upper-most,” said Gordhan.
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