By Key Facts
- Operator: South African Airways (SAA)
- Location: South Africa
- Date: 2025
South African Airways has placed its acting group chief executive, Matshela Seshibe, on special leave effective immediately, as the state-owned carrier conducts an internal investigation whose subject it has declined to disclose. Chief legal officer Koekie Mbeki steps into the role on an acting basis to maintain leadership continuity.
South African Airways Acts on Governance Grounds
SAA offered no specific explanation for the decision, but framed it in terms of institutional principles. Board chair Sedzani Mudau said in a statement: “We recognise the responsibility entrusted to us and will continue to act decisively and in the best interests of the airline and all of its stakeholders.”
The airline added that the move reflects an “unwavering commitment to the highest standards of good governance, accountability, integrity and leadership.”
Seshibe’s suspension comes just four months after his appointment — a remarkably short tenure even by the standards of South African Airways, which has cycled through multiple chief executives over the past decade. He had previously led Air Chefs, SAA’s catering subsidiary, before taking the top role. His broader career included senior positions at Unilever, SABMiller, and Coca-Cola.
Mbeki Brings a Decade of Institutional Experience
Seshibe himself had stepped into the acting chief role following the resignation of John Lamola, who guided the carrier through its protracted business rescue process and the financial devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic. SAA emerged from business rescue in 2021 after years of losses, government bailouts, and structural overhauls — making stable leadership a particularly sensitive issue for the airline and its stakeholders.
Koekie Mbeki, who now assumes acting group chief responsibilities, has served SAA for ten years in a legal capacity. The airline cited her “extensive institutional knowledge” as a key reason for the appointment, signalling a preference for internal continuity during what could be a disruptive period.
South African Airways has not indicated a timeline for the investigation’s conclusion or whether Seshibe could return to any role at the carrier afterward. The airline’s shareholder, the South African government, has not yet issued a public comment on the matter.
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