(Posted 19th April 2023)
The appointment of Derek Hanekom, the former Tourism Minister of South Africa as the chairperson of interim SAA (South African Airways) Board earlier today had been welcomed right across the continent. Alain St.Ange, also a former Tourism Minister of the Seychelles who worked closely with Minister Hanekom, is currently heading his own Saint Ange Tourism Consultancy and is active on the African continent after a rather long spell in the ASEAN Block, said that he tweeted a congratulatory message to Minister Hanekom immediately after hearing the news.
“This appointment is good news for SAA. Derek Hanekom is a hard worker and understands that tourism is not an activity, but that it is an industry. Derek Hanekom worked for tourism with his heart in the right place and with the needed passion. SAA is in good hands and the whole of Africa need to welcome this move because this airline is a needed airline for our continent” Alain St.Ange said from the Seychelles.
On his part a tweet by Derek Hanekom simply said “Big new challenge. I’ll certainly give it my all”
SAA has been facing challenges and has seen several changes in its top jobs.
Adds www.ATCNews.org: … including repeated changes of the CEO / Interim CEO and among members of the Board of Directors. It is now expected that with the arrival of Derek Hanekom as Chairman of the Board, a period of quiet but determined time lays ahead for SAA, which is undergoing a revival and aims to return full swing as national airline.
