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The Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF) notes with grave concern the re appointment of Mr Nico Bezuidenhout as CEO of Mango Airlines, the low-cost airline of SAA, a State-Owned Company.

PPF is even more concerned that an individual who has overstated his qualifications is allowed back into a senior executive position at SAA. The 2011 / 2012 SAA Annual Report stated that Bezuidenhout had a BCom in transport economics and industrial psychology as well as an MBA. The truth is that Mr Bezuidenhout enrolled for a BCom at Rand Afrikaans University in 1995 and dropped out in 1996. In 1997, he registered with Unisa for a BCom majoring in industrial psychology and transport economics.

According to Bezuidenhout’s CV , one subject, taxation, had been outstanding for 14 years. He then reportedly registered for an MBA with Milpark Education, but did not submit the required thesis. SAA said at the time that the overstated qualifications in its Annual Report was an editing error.

It is also strongly suspicious that the requirements for the CEO job appears to have been tailored for Bezuidenhout “matric with a minimum of 10 years specific airline experience as chief executive of an airline or relevant tertiary qualification with a minimum of 9 years airline specific experience on an executive or chief executive officer or managing director level,”. This suggests conduct of maladministration and negligence of fiduciary responsibilities on the part of the board.

Misrepresentation and lack of ethics must not and cannot be tolerated in any position of responsibility President: Kashif Wicomb |Deputy President: Stephen Ngubeni | National Chairperson: Abram Luruli Secretary General: Sithembiso Kubheka| Deputy Secretary General: Matshidiso Mfikoe Treasurer General: Thembi Jimana The think tank and resource base of South Africa and by any person, black or white. The same critical judgement metered out against black professionals did not appear to apply in this particular instance. Sadly, this perpetuatesthe perception that the fight against corruption and mediocrity, only bears the colour black.
 
The PPF calls on the board of SAA and the Minister of Public Enterprises to investigate this appointment. Our country cannot afford persons who lack ethics and honesty to be appointed to senior positions in our State-Owned Companies.
 
The PPF also calls for the Presidential SOCs Council through President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa to conduct an independent investigation into the recruitment and selection of the MANGO CEO in terms of the following areas:
1. The approved job requirements as encapsulated on the advertisement against the standard job requirements which were used previously in filling this post. It must be established whether there has been a variation of the current CEO’s job requirements as compared to those used when appointing the previous CEO/s.
2. The vetting report of the appointed MANGO CEO (in terms of qualifications possessed)
3. The current Employment Equity Plan targets for SAA in lieu of the MANGO CEO incumbent.
4. The fairness of the recruitment and selection process undertaken by the board.

Issued by Progressive Professionals Forum