Latest news with #SouthAfricanAirways
IOL News
23-05-2025
- IOL News
Man sentenced to 10 years for stealing R1. 6 million aviation safety equipment
A 44-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing a critical aviation safety component worth over R1.6 million from South African Airways, raising serious concerns about aviation security and the integrity of public resources A 44-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing a critical aviation safety component valued at more than R1.6 million from South African Airways (SAA) at OR Tambo International Airport. The Kempton Park Magistrates' Court on Thursday handed down the sentence to Emmanuel Mdakane after convicting him of theft on 16 May 2025. The court found that, between January and February 2018, Mdakane stole a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) processor — a vital part of aircraft safety systems designed to prevent mid-air collisions. The processor was never recovered. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said Mdakane sold the stolen equipment to a complainant for R340,000 but refunded only R40,000 after collecting the money.
Daily Maverick
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Curiosity and conspiracy take off with documentary series Helderberg
The mark of any good series is that you want to keep watching, and with access to only the first two episodes of Helderberg, it was frustrating not being able to reach the end of such a polished and thought-provoking production. It's a must watch, for South Africans especially. True crime tales and air crash investigations have an obvious overlap thanks to their core mystery. In both cases, we're immediately asking, 'What happened?' But while deep dives into murders almost always point to a definitive conclusion, aircraft incidents tend towards the more nebulous. Especially if recordings are garbled or key debris is never located. There also seems to be an unsaid rule that with air disasters, the victims should be treated with more sensitivity on screen; they're not just a name and face paperclipped to a case file. All of this means that new documentary miniseries Helderberg is a somewhat different beast from previous efforts made by IdeaCandy, the production company behind the likes of Steinheist, Devilsdorp, Tracking Thabo Bester and Rosemary's Hitlist. All of these shows delved into shocking true stories that stunned South Africa, and in that sense, Helderberg is the same, although it jumps back slightly in local history, to the final turbulent years of Apartheid. Helderberg centres on South Africa's worst-ever commercial aviation disaster, when, just after midnight on 28 November 1987, Mauritian air traffic control lost contact with South African Airways Flight SA 295 (AKA the Helderberg), shortly after it started its approach to the island, en route from Taipei to Johannesburg. Having already declared an emergency, the Boeing 747 crashed into the Indian Ocean, claiming the lives of all 159 passengers and crew aboard. Almost four decades later, no one knows the cause of the fatal fire that broke out on the plane. And that's exactly what documentary Helderberg delves into, once it's covered the timeline of events surrounding the crash, its fascinating recovery and extremely problematic official inquiry. Anyone familiar with the Helderberg story will know that there are a handful of theories and conspiracies about the disaster, and IdeaCandy and fellow production company Relish Media play devil's advocate, giving air time to each hypothesis – with the biggie being that the Apartheid government was circumventing sanctions by using commercial passenger flights to bring illicit, dangerous materials into the country for military use. To their credit, the makers of Helderberg keep a tight rein on the sensationalism, balancing it with accounts of human tragedy; the heartbreaking cruelty of fate in some instances, alongside the impressive technical details of the investigation. It's impossible not to gain some new knowledge from the series, even if it's simply because of the show's time capsule effect, transporting viewers back to yesteryear through its assemblage of news and stock footage. On that note, Helderberg is slickly made and visually dynamic, avoiding much of the repetition seen in earlier efforts like Devilsdorp. DM
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out
New SAA routes for Cape Town... including Mauritius!
South African Airways plans to spread its wings with a clutch of new flights, including two exciting new routes out of Cape Town. Travel News by TNW is reporting that SAA's Chief Commercial Officer Tebogo Tsimane confirmed the new routes at the recent Travel Indaba held in Durban. The most exciting route on the horizon is a direct seasonal flight between Cape Town and Mauritius, set to launch in November 2025. Just in time for a summer escape, this new route offers a smoother way to reach the Indian Ocean island, without the usual Johannesburg layover. Air Mauritius already offers a direct service from Cape Town, and increased competition will hopefully see fares fall. Also, the scheduling of the Mauritius flight is a nightmare start to an island holiday: an 11:35pm departure from Cape Town, a night with little sleep, and an early morning – 6:40am – arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Let's hope the SAA schedule is a little less brutal! Also on the cards is a direct Cape Town to Durban service, although no launch date has been confirmed yet. This route has been missing from SAA's schedule for years, and its return will make cross-country hops easier for both business and leisure travellers. Again, you could use FlySafair (their R11 sale was a massive hit!) or Airlink (check out their Gaborone flights too) right now, but more competition will mean more options, and hopefully cheaper flights. Cape Town isn't the only city receiving attention. Other updates include a new Johannesburg-George route launching in April 2026 and a Johannesburg-East London service still awaiting a launch date. Regionally, flights from Johannesburg to Gaborone, Botswana, are scheduled to start in October 2025. SAA is also polishing up its long-haul ambitions, with plans to restart intercontinental services to Mumbai, India, and to launch new flights to Guangzhou, China in 2026.
The South African
19-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
SAA to launch new domestic and regional routes
South African Airways (SAA) will be adding new routes starting this year, with several new domestic and regional services planned. According to Travel News , SAA's Chief Commercial Officer, Tebogo Tsimane, confirmed the airline's plans to expand routes at the recent Africa's Travel Indaba. Tsimane revealed that the airline would be adding services to the following destinations: SAA domestic services: Johannesburg-George, launching April 2026 Johannesburg-East London, launch date still to be confirmed Cape Town-Durban, launch date still to be confirmed SAA regional services Johannesburg-Gaborone, launching October 2025 Seasonal flights between Cape Town and Mauritius, launching November 2025 In other route-related news from SAA, the airline's initial plans to introduce flights to Mumbai, India has faced delays, due to ongoing challenges with aircraft availability. SAA had aimed to launch its Mumbai route in October this year. But, due to difficulties acquiring suitable aircraft, the timeline has been pushed back. SAA now aims to announce the Mumbai route and open it for sales by July this year, with flights expected to kick off 2026. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Home Affairs shifts focus to Timothy Omotoso's wife's immigration status
JOHANNESBURG - The wife of controversial Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso now has a target on her back, as Home Affairs officials shift their focus to Taiwo Omotoso's immigration status. This follows preliminary investigations that found she may also be in South Africa illegally. Just on Sunday, officials facilitated her husband's departure from the country after failing to successfully prosecute him for violating South Africa's immigration laws. The pastor, who was recently acquitted of rape and human trafficking, has been banned from re-entering South Africa for five years starting at the time his South African Airways (SAA) flight jetted off to Lagos from the OR Tambo International Airport. Following Timothy's departure, his wife remains in South Africa surrounded by family members and a few loyal supporters. ALSO READ: But her presence in the country is now under the microscope. Home Affairs officials said early findings suggest she may have fraudulent documentation, adding that, should they be verified, this could render her stay in South Africa illegal. To avoid facing legal consequences, she's been advised to voluntarily return to Nigeria. The head of immigration enforcement, Steven Van Neel, said, 'We're still looking into her, and we'll follow the necessary processes from our side. But early indications are that she's not legal in the country.' During the early stages of Timothy's rape and human trafficking trial, Taiwo was often seen in the public gallery, murmuring and gesturing at witnesses on the stand. Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is yet to announce its next move, as it considers an appeal against Omotoso's acquittal in his high-profile sexual offences trial.
