SAA to oppose suspended CEO’s court application

South African Airways (SAA) says it will oppose its suspended CEO Monwabisi Kalawe’s labour court application to stop his disciplinary hearing.

Among the disciplinary charges is the charge that he sourced and personally paid R150 000 for what he concedes are fraudulent bank statements purporting to be those of chairperson Dudu Myeni, which were to be used by him in support of his allegations against Myeni.

“Mr Kalawe has, throughout his suspension, attempted to avoid facing these disciplinary charges at a disciplinary hearing and consistent with such attempts now seeks to interdict this in the Labour Court.

“The Labour Court application appears to be a concerted attempt to avoid accounting in a properly constituted enquiry for the serious disciplinary complaints levelled against him,” said the airline.
The airline said Kalawe remained suspended and that he was facing a disciplinary enquiry before independent chairperson Nazeer Cassim.

“Significantly, Kalawe has, during the course of these proceedings, persisted with scurrilous, serious, personal and defamatory allegations against the SAA chairperson and other board members.

“To the extent necessary, these allegations will be properly dealt with by the board at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum. Importantly, SAA does not intend to debate these issues in the media and will oppose the Labour Court application,” said the airline.