Zuko Komisa
- The Public Protector has officially cleared Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Minister Barbara Creecy of any wrongdoing regarding the SAA CEO appointment.
- Investigations confirmed that no “private interviews” took place and no executive ethics codes were breached during the recruitment process.
- The Presidency has dismissed previous media allegations as “misguided” while reaffirming its commitment to formal, transparent hiring practices in state entities.
The Office of the Deputy President has welcomed a decision by the Public Protector to clear Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Transport Minister Barbara Creecy of any misconduct regarding the appointment of Professor John Lamola as SAA’s outgoing CEO.
The investigation found no evidence of improper interference or breaches of the Executive Ethics Code during the recruitment process.
The inquiry was launched to determine whether the two officials had bypassed formal government protocols by holding clandestine, “private interviews” with Professor Lamola.
Investigators specifically scrutinised whether these alleged meetings constituted a breach of the Executive Ethics Code or an attempt to exert undue influence over the state-owned airline’s leadership selection.
Ultimately, the Public Protector concluded that the recruitment followed established procedures, debunking claims of behind-the-scenes political meddling.
The ruling effectively shuts down previous allegations that the pair had acted outside of official channels. The Presidency has condemned the initial media reports as misleading and mischievous, asserting that the Deputy President remains fully committed to the transparent, merit-based appointment of qualified candidates within state-owned enterprises.
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