Zuma pledges to assist cash-strapped national carrier

South African President Jacob Zuma said on Friday that his government is committed to assisting the cash-strapped South African Airways (SAA) to overcome all challenges.

The government would never sell the state-owned airliner, Zuma said, dismissing rumours that the SAA would be sold.

He was speaking during an inspection tour of the SAA headquarters in Johannesburg.

"It (SAA) promotes SA in many ways. I wouldn't understand any notion that would say this company must be reduced or its capacity must be reduced. It must be expanded, it can do a lot. It is the SAA that has proved to me that our flag is the best in the world and one of the ways to see SA is SAA, the flag flying,"Zuma said.

Zuma held meetings with staff and the board in which he received reports about the performance of the company.

"I'm pleased by the board and senior management's commitment to implement the Long-Term Turnaround Strategy to put the airline on a path of commercial sustainability," said Zuma.

The president thanked the staff for their dedication and hard work and informed them that they are South Africa's ambassadors wherever they travel with the SAA.

Zuma said the government would not waive its commitment to supporting the national carrier in its work.

The SAA reported to the president that there was a positive turn in its financials for the fourth quarter of the 2016 Financial year which ended on March 31, 2016.

The airline has achieved this despite facing many challenges, the SAA said.

The government has spent billions of rand to bail out the troubled airliner.

The SAA also reported to the president that its cost compression programme had begun to bear results.

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