Lead: Gordhan's quiet SAA Hearing

Phutego Mojapele | Aviation Analyst 

The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, under the leadership of Minister Pravin Gordhan, made an unusual decision to hold a closed-door meeting regarding the SAA-Takatso transaction. Typically public, committee meetings can be closed under specific circumstances requiring confidentiality.

Committee chair Khaya Magaxa requested the media and public to exit the meeting while the committee deliberated on the confidentiality of certain documents. These documents include the sale agreement between the Department of Public Enterprises and Takatso, along with materials concerning Takatso's selection as the strategic equity partner.

 Minister Gordhan has withheld these documents for over a year, citing confidentiality agreements with other airline bidders.

Additionally, Gordhan proposed that committee members sign non-disclosure agreements, which Magaxa deemed inappropriate and legally questionable. Despite this, the committee decided to meet the minister in camera to assess the need for confidentiality.

Earlier, it was revealed that the Department of Public Enterprises had declined to provide the Auditor-General with SAA's valuation.