All major airports of South Africa have been affected by a protest action today. The strike was initiated by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca).

Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, Durban’s King Shaka Airport, and East London Airport had pickets from 11am to 1:30pm. Fortunately, the flights were not disrupted due to the industrial action.

The trade unionists were protesting against a number of problems at SA Airways (SAA) and SAA Technical (Saat).

“THIS INCLUDES THE RECENT RESIGNATION OF THE GCEO VUYANI JARANA, CORRUPTION OF SAAT MANAGEMENT, PROBLEMS IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, ALLEGATIONS OF NEPOTISM, TRIBALISM AND CORRUPTION OF THE HR MANAGER AT SAAT, AND OTHER ISSUES,” NUMSA SPOKESPERSON PHAKAMILE HLUBI-MAJOLA MENTIONED.

Last Friday, SAA announced it needed R4bn from the government to make the ends meet this financial year and renegotiate loan terms with banks.

Two days later, Jarana unexpectedly resigned stating that the five-year turnaround plan he had implemented was not going to work due to the lack of state funding and too much bureaucracy.