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The South African
02-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
SAA's wings in full flight - and profitable!
Following several challenging years, State-owned airline, South African Airways (SAA), is now in a position to contribute economic value. This is according to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who presented the departmental Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday morning. SAA was racked by allegations of fraud and corruption during the State capture years. It was put under business rescue and grounded but has recovered to fly domestic, continental and international flights. 'With unencumbered assets and renewed profitability, SAA is well-positioned to drive economic value through expanded international services, job creation, and increased contributions to tourism and trade,' Creecy said. Furthermore, the airline is now contributing to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 'According to [an Oxford Economics Africa] study, SAA contributed R9.1 billion to South Africa's GDP in 2023/24, a figure projected to more than triple to R32.6 billion by 2029/2030. Over the same period, the airline's operations are expected to support 86 700 jobs, up from the current 25 000, demonstrating its growing role as a national employer and economic catalyst. 'The airline has concluded three out of four outstanding audits and reported a profit of R252 million for the 2022/23 financial year for the first time since 2012. Now operating independently and no longer reliant on government guarantees, SAA is self-funding its operations and fleet growth, while remaining open to a strategic equity partner as part of its long-term restructuring,' the Minister highlighted. Creecy revealed that the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has been allocated some R21.7 billion for infrastructure development. '[This is] in order to meet our target of moving 42 million passengers per year and increasing air freight handling through the ACSA network of airports. This will improve facilities for passenger safety and comfort over the medium-term and build a new freight terminal at OR Tambo International Airport. 'In addition, we are fast tracking projects to ensure reliable availability of jet fuel to all airlines at all our airports, as well as the general upkeep and upgrading of facilities and technologies at each of our airports to improve both security of passengers and cargo, as well as convenience of airport users,' she said. Creecy told Parliament that the state of roads in South Africa remains an important issue that the department is concerned about, with the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) taking over some 3 099 kilometers of provincial roads over the past year. 'Over the period of the MTDP [Medium-Term Development Plan] and beyond, SANRAL has reprioritised within the existing maintenance and capital allocated funding so that these roads are serviced through the Route Road Maintenance Programme,' she said. Creecy also revealed that the driver's licence printing machine is now back in operation. 'The old card machine is currently fixed and we are hard at work to clear out the printing backlog of licence cards. To ensure we have a backup solution, we have signed a MOU with the Government Printing Works. We expect that within three months, this backup solution will be able to print driver's licence cards,' she said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
R9. 1 million spent on NHI legal battles, says Motsoaledi
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says his department is facing seven legal cases challenging the NHI and National Health Acts. Image: GCIS Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi disclosed on Wednesday that R9.1 million has been spent to date on litigation involving the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. Motsoaledi said his department was facing seven legal cases, which included five over the NHI and two on the National Health Act. 'From October 2023 when the first counsel was briefed, the total amount paid is R9,696,679,99. There is no pending financial liability for any cost product since the single judgment that came out so far is under appeal,' he said. Motsoaledi made the comment during the question and answer session in the National Assembly. DA MP Michele Clarke had enquired whether Motsoaledi was responding about the total expenses incurred regarding litigation involving the National Health Insurance Act, including the estimated financial liability for any adverse cost order. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Motsoaledi said the department was using the same legal team to fend off the legal challenges. 'We have hired a team that deals with them. It is five senior counsel and seven junior counsel.' Clarke asked about the justification to pay the large legal team when hospitals cannot afford to pay for patients or overtime for doctors. She noted that President Cyril Ramaphosa had a small legal team compared to the Health Minister. In response, Motsoaledi said their legal team was appropriate. 'The President's (legal team) is for only one case, not seven. We are sued for seven cases and that is why this amount of money is for those who have been involved in litigation.' He indicated that when the cases increase, the department will increase the number of legal counsels to match them. He noted that the R9m paid for lawyers to defend the cases was a lot of money when doctors were not employed. 'You here honourable members, who are subsidised to stay on private medical aid for R70 billion, Why don't you have the heart to believe that money must go to help the poor?' He also stated that South Africans on medical aid get tax credits to the tune of R33 billion. 'It's R103 billion rand that goes on to 14% of the population. Then you come here to me and complain about R9 (million),' he said. 'If you are not on private medical aids and being heavily subsidised, there won't be any litigation because we won't be asking for NHI. South Africans will be equal so please go and think about that very carefully.' ACDP MP Steven Swart said litigation was expected regarding the controversial NHI Act. 'We understand the need for five seniors, seven juniors, given the constitutional arguments and the ACDP, like many others, has serious concerns about the constitutionality of the Act,' he said. Swart also said the cost of litigation against the department was extremely worrisome and took away much needed health services, in particular medical legal claims, which as at last year was R75 billion and the legal cost would be hundreds of millions of rands. 'What is being done to reduce the number of medical legal claims against the department, which besides the fraudulent claims, we know there are many fraudulent claims, is often caused by overworked doctors and nurses who work under severe pressure and may act negligently in that regard,' he asked in a supplementary question. Motsoaledi said the original question was about the NHI and Swart was asking about medical legal claims. 'Medical legal worries us, and you are correct, it takes money away from the health care system. Fraud was found to be the biggest part of this.' Cape Times
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Motsoaledi says R9. 1 million spent on legal battles over NHI
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says his department is facing seven legal cases challenging the NHI and National Health Acts. Image: GCIS Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi disclosed on Wednesday that R9.1 million has been spent to date on litigation involving the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. Motsoaledi said his department was facing seven legal cases, which included five on NHI and two on the National Health Act. 'From October 2023 when the first counsel was briefed, the total amount paid is R9,696,679,99. There is no pending financial liability for any cost product since the single judgment that came out so far is under appeal,' he said. Motsoaledi made the comment during the question and answer session in the National Assembly. DA MP Michele Clarke had enquired whether Motsoaledi was responding about the total expenses incurred regarding litigation involving the National Health Insurance Act, including the estimated financial liability for any adverse cost order. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Motsoaledi said the department was using the same legal team to fend off the legal challenges. 'We have hired a team that deals with them. It is five senior counsel and seven junior counsel.' Clarke asked about the justification to pay the large legal team when hospitals cannot afford to pay for patients or overtime for doctors. She noted that President Cyril Ramaphosa had a small legal team compared to the Health Minister. In response, Motsoaledi said their legal team was appropriate. 'The President's (legal team) is for only one case, not seven. We are sued for seven cases and that is why this amount of money is for those who have been involved in litigation.' He indicated that when the cases increase, the department will increase the number of legal counsels to match them. He noted that the R9m paid for lawyers to defend the cases was a lot of money when doctors were not employed. 'You here honourable members, who are subsidised to stay on private medical aid for R70 billion, Why don't you have the heart to believe that money must go to help the poor?' He also South Africans on a medical aid get tax credits to the tune of R33 billion. 'It's R103 billion rand that goes on to 14% of the population. Then you come here to me and complain about R9 billion,' he said. 'If you are not on private medical aids and being heavily subsidised, there won't be any litigation because we won't be asking for NHI. South Africans will be equal so please go and think about that very carefully.' ACDP MP Steven Swart said litigation was expected regarding the controversial NHI Act. 'We understand the need for five seniors, seven juniors, given the constitutional arguments and the ACDP, like many others, has serious concerns about the constitutionality of the Act,' he said. Swart also said the cost of litigation against the department was extremely worrisome and took away much needed health services, in particular medical legal claims, which as at last year was R75 billion and the legal cost would be hundreds of millions of rands. 'What is being done to reduce the number of medical legal claims against the department, which besides the fraudulent claims, we know there are many fraudulent claims, is often caused by overworked doctors and nurses who work under severe pressure and may act negligently in that regard,' he asked in a supplementary question. Motsoaledi said the original question was about the NHI and Swart was asking about medical legal claims. 'Medical legal worries us, and you are correct, it takes money away from the health care system. Fraud was found to be the biggest part of this.'
