SABC Employee Denies She Was Drunk on FlySafair Flight, Nobuntu Mkhize Wants to Sue Airline and SAPS
- Nobuntu Mkhize claims that she was not drunk during an altercation on a FlySafair flight
- The SABC employee is threatening to sue both the airline and the police following the incident
- Mkhize was filmed assaulting a cabin crew member after one refused to serve her a drink
Source: Twitter
Nobuntu Mkhize is threatening to sue both FlySafair and the South African Police Service (SAPS) following the now-infamous Boxing Day flight.
The 43-year-old, who was at the centre of a now-viral incident on 26 December, is unhappy with the treatment she claims she received from police and the airline.
The SABC employee was caught on camera fighting with FlySafair crew members, demanding to be served a drink.
Mkhize denies she was drunk
Initial reports about the incident stated that the 43-year-old was allegedly drunk, something Mkhize has denied.
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Speaking to News24, she claimed she only had a whiskey before the flight but was not drunk.
"We checked in and then decided to go to the slow lounge. At the slow lounge, we ate quickly, and we had one drink, which was the whiskey," she said.
"We realised that we were running late, then we went and boarded the plane. When we got inside the plane, I was not drunk, I was sober as a judge," she added.
Mkhize claims cabin crew were rude
The SABC employee claimed she only got upset when the flight attendant refused to serve her, saying she didn’t understand why.
During her interview with News24, she claimed she was asking about their cooldrinks when the cabin crew member said she was annoying in isiXhosa.
"That's when I said, excuse me, because I did not understand why she would not serve me."
She added that the crew would not listen to her side of the story.
Mkhize claims she was undermined because of race
In response to a question about some of her statements made during the heated argument, Mkhize said she only said some things because she was being undermined.
"If I was white, they would not have treated me the way they treated me. Although I do not condone it, I said some of the things I said because they were undermining me since I am black,” she said.
"I want to sue both the SAPS as well as the airline, finish and klaar," Mkhize concluded.
FlySafair has had its fair share of legal threats of late. There have been concerns that its international flights could be grounded due to a dispute over its international license.
What you need to know about the FlySafair flight drama
- Patriotic Alliance to launch complaint with Human Rights Commission over Mkhize's behaviour
- Democratic Alliance opens criminal case against SABC employee in viral video
- South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) condemns actions of SABC employee
- Somizi Mhlongo makes fun of Nobuntu Mkhize after video surfaces of airline altercation
Social media has its say
South Africans weighed in on Mkhize’s comments, with some saying it was worse that she was sober and behaved like that.
@Jolene68541946 said:
“Whoever advised her to say she wasn't drunk doesn't love her. She can face assault charges, and racist slurs put her in a deep legal mess.”
@Inenekazi1 stated:
“Omg😭the fact that she wasn't drunk makes it worse.”
@Joff11 added:
“Well, that makes her behaviour even more unacceptable. Besides, as far as I recall, the altercation was because they refused to supply her any more alcohol.”
@savage_hella laughed:
“Lol. So, if she wasn't intoxicated, she was just being unruly for alcohol. Doesn't make it any better.”
@mcckinley added:
“Then something wasn't functioning well upstairs.”
@lerato_lalove asked:
“So she was just being her normal self?🤮That’s worse.”
@If_I_Was_Free stated.
“Damn, this makes it even worse. Imagine if she was drunk 😭.”
FlySafair won't be grounded in December
It's been tough going for FlySafair of late, as there were legitimate fears that the airline could be grounded during the festive season.
Briefly News reported that South Africa's International Air Services Council (IASC) recently found FlySafair to be non-compliant.
The airline reassured customers on 10 December that their flights would not be affected by the ongoing legal issues.
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Source: Briefly News
