Parly committee wants SIU to probe cancelled SAA-Takatso deal

CAPE TOWN - The National Assembly’s public enterprises oversight committee wants the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the now-cancelled South African Airways (SAA) and Takatso deal.

Members of the committee agreed unanimously to write to the Speaker to request to have the deal to sell 51% of SAA to the special equity partner.

They want the SIU, or whoever investigates the deal, to also look into the claims that former director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi’s signature was forged on a document giving the deal the green light.

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While the SAA deal might have been cancelled by Cabinet last week, MPs still have a lot of questions about how Takatso came to be selected as the preferred partner.

The public enterprises committee met on Wednesday to try to bring finality to the submission by Tlhakudi regarding alleged irregularities in the transaction, and SAA's undervaluation.

Chairperson Khaya Magaxa: "The committee cannot say that the SAA-Takatso transaction was above board. So, in this regard, we're recommending that law enforcement agencies must do their work in unravelling the truth about this transaction."

Democratic Alliance member of Parliament (MP) Mimmy Gondwe agreed that the matter be looked into.

"I support your proposal that we refer this matter to SIU because as you indicated they’re better placed than us to be able to conduct a thorough investigation into this deal."

The committee will now write to the Speaker to make the formal request before the House rises at the end of March.