South Africa’s plan to partially privatize national airline South African Airways is in jeopardy, according to Semafor newspaper on Thursday. The country’s antitrust commission may not approve the agreement.
The South African government sold a controlling stake in the national airline to the Takatso Consortium in 2021 for R3 billion (US$164.71 million).
According to Semafor, the South African Competition Commission has expressed worry over Global Airways’ involvement. This is because the company is a component of the consortium that owns the regional carrier Lift.
Semafor said the competition authority is reviewing whether the new entity will hurt competition if the acquisition goes ahead.
While citing officials at the ministries of finance and public enterprises, and an official at the government chosen consortium.
