ANALYSIS: Ex-SAA acting chief Seshibe guilty on 4 of 6 charges as runway runs out
Matshela Seshibe and SAA are disappointed that the document laying bare the outcome of the disciplinary process at Air Chefs that disqualified (according to SAA) him from becoming the permanent CEO of our national carrier was leaked to the media, but here we are.
Former acting CEO of Air Chefs and South African Airways, Matshela Seshibe, was found guilty on four out of six disciplinary charges by Judge Basheer Waglay. The 56-page outcome document, which Daily Maverick has reviewed, revealed that Seshibe approved unauthorized salary increases for two executives without board approval and exceeded the acting allowance cap by 28.57%.
He also failed to declare a conflict of interest with Zandile Mzilikazi, a close personal friend who was later appointed acting CEO after Seshibe's promotion. Waglay dismissed Seshibe's arguments that these actions were pro-rata adjustments and that their relationship was purely professional, noting that their personal exchange included romantic language and photos.
Seshibe's defense centered on his efforts to address pay disparities and operational gaps, but the judge upheld the board's decision, emphasizing that good intentions do not exempt him from strict compliance with statutory rules and board oversight.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
