The strategy of the South African Airways (SAA) board - or at least some of its members - of wanting suppliers to set aside 30% of tenders they were awarded by the airline, for BEE companies selected by SAA, was "to bridge the gap between black and white, so to speak", Yakhe Kwinana, a former board member and chair of SAA Technical (SAAT) told the Zondo commission into state capture on Tuesday.
According to Kwinana, the idea of companies entering agreements with SAA, to set aside 30% for a BEE partner or partners, was intended to obtain the same objective as bidders at other SOEs who were provided opportunities if they were 51% or more broadly black-owned.
