SAA to Be Sold in 2022, Pravin Gordhan Says Omicron Variant Has No Impact on Price

• 51% of South African Airways will be sold to Takatso by early next year, says Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan
• Although South Africa has recently received travel bans from many western countries, Gordhan does not believe it will affect the price of the sale
• Gordhan stated that South African will receive more information on the Omicron variant by next week

Pravin Gordhan, the Minister for Public Enterprise, has announced that South African Airways (SAA)'s 51% stake sale to private investors should be concluded by early next year.

The majority stake will be sole to Takatso, which is comprised of Global Aviation and Harith. After the necessary legal and regulatory steps have been taken, the sale will be concluded.

The price should not be swayed by travel bans following the discovery of the Omicron variant. Gordhan hopes that these bans will soon be rescinded following ongoing discussions between the South African government and different countries' leaders, Bloomberg reports.

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Gordhan claims that information regarding the nature and behaviour of the Omicron variant will be communicated next week.

"Those are matters that over the next few days government will apply its mind to. We have learned a few lessons from the first few waves, so to speak. The balance between lives and livelihoods needs to be carefully managed," Gordhan said.

According to News24, Gordhan also stated his support for Andre de Ruyter, the CEO of Eskom, amidst public calls for his resignation from the power utility due to load shedding, poor maintenance, and corruption.

EFF wants Pravin Gordhan removed

Previously, Briefly News reported that the EFF has published a press release stating their wishes for Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan to be removed from office.

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They have also called for the Eskom Board, as well as CEO Andre De Ruyter and COO Jan Oberholzer, to be fired.

This statement was released as a response to ongoing loadshedding, which Eskom has said it will struggle to put a permanent end to. The EFF has requested that the above-mentioned removals be conducted by President Cyril Ramaphosa himself.

Source: Briefly News