City Press reports that the parliamentary portfolio committee on public enterprises has written to the department of public enterprises requesting an explanation for the recent appointment of Nico Bezuidenhout as CEO of state-owned airline Mango.  

The committee’s chairperson, Khaya Magaxa, indicated that he wrote to the department after receiving a written request from the Black Management Forum (BMF) a week ago to investigate the matter.  Magaxa said that the committee needed to get clarity first, before deciding on a possible investigation.  The BMF’s letter, written by its president Andile Nomlala, asserts that Bezuidenhout’s integrity is questionable.  It also notes that the initial advert for the position was withdrawn and revised to require only matric as a qualification for the CEO job.  “The only reasonable inference that can be drawn from this is that the job requirements were ostensibly amended to suit Mr Bezuidenhout,” the letter reads.  Also, according to Nomlala, the appointment does very little to advance transformation.  He goes on to pose a list of questions, including why a tertiary qualification was not a requirement for such an oversight position and why Bezuidenhout, who had previously allegedly lied about his qualifications, was appointed.  The BMF has also issued a statement condemning the recent appointment.

• Read the full original of Lesetja Malope’s report on the above at City Press

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