22 JULY: A financial scandal involving the former head of South African Airways was making headlines in South Africa yesterday.
A report prepared by auditing firm KPMG for the airline’s board has allegedly found costly, widespread mismanagement of the airline during the term of former chief executive Khaya Ngqula.
Mr Ngqula was axed in March last year, but walked away with a payout of 13 million rand (about $2m).
The KPMG investigation was ordered after a major trade union compiled a dossier of allegations against Mr Ngqula.
South African media have termed the subsequent report "explosive".
And current SAA chairman Cheryl Carolus says it’s being handed to prosecutors for further investigation.
At the same time, the airline is going to demand that Mr Ngqula return some 30 million rand (about $4m) allegedly paid out in excess of authorised limits - some of it for lavish hospitality and generous sponsorship deals.
