Dear Mr Manuel
I’ll start off this message by saying that I really, really like your economic policies over the past few years and think that your choice in suits is quite excellent as well. For many years I’ve eagerly listened to your budget speech and enjoyed it. I’ve laughed at your little quips and applauded increases in spending on education and trying to solve the general issues of this country. However, this year I’ve got an issue with where you’re putting my tax money.
Why on earth did you give SAA 1.6 billion rand? I know SAA is the airline that represents South Africa but lets level with reality here: the company is both morally and economically bankrupt. My personal favourite story about SAA is when one of the last CEO’s sold all the companies spares, created a budget surplus and then got given a massive bonus for keeping the company in the black. When the next CEO was appointed the reality set in and millions had to be spent to buy spares for the company.
SAA isn’t even competitive in its flight costs. I can quite easily buy a return local flight off Kulula or 1Time for the same price as a one way ticket on SAA. The reality is similar with international flights. You can’t even justify these increased expenses by offering nicer air-hostesses or decent leg room. It’s the same rubbish flying experience at a higher price. There’s patriotism and there’s flogging a dead donkey. I’ll let you work out which one this is.
Do you know you’re actually supporting a call centre in Fort Lauderdale? I know America needs a lot of money at the moment but I don’t think it’s up to us to pay for SAA’s call centre in the States. Now you’re paying for their Khaya Ngqula to have a holiday while he is investigated.
So Trevor, what I’m writing to say to you is that SAA needs to be destroyed. I think you should take that 1.6 Billion rand and put it somewhere useful such as educating Julius Malema. I also think you should ask me where you want to put my tax money in the future. So next time you send me a tax return I want a survey with the list of places you’re putting more than, say one billion rand, and give me an option. I’m sure most people wouldn’t want you to prop up a useless government “parastatal” that just haemoraghes money due to incompetence, greed and corruption.
So that’s all I have to say to you Trev. Stop propping up useless industries. It’s anti-competitive and frankly you might as well throw that money down the toilet. I choose not to fly SAA for this very reason but ironically I might as well use them since my tax money is going that way regardless.
Keep up the good work Trevor and say hi to Maria
Regards
SaulK
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Nicely said. I share the exact same sentiments. I imagine the extra boost has something to do with 2010… so hopefully by 2011 this will all change.
I’m sure that decent management would have a much better impact the extra 1.6 billion Rand. Heck, imagine if SAA had to fend for itself like the other airlines??? The mind boggles how they manage to lose so much money every year.
It would actually be really nice if they included a small survey on the e-filling website where the TAX Payers actually got to vote what they think should be a priority.
LOL, very good. I truly hope that you printed this out, popped it in an envelope and managed to source some of those little sticky things called stamps to send this “snail-mail” to Mr Manuel, just in case he doesn’t find it online.
I suppose their only concern is how on earth they could privatise [or even turn into a semi-parastatal] an asset with a negative value and depreciating daily.
Until they figure that one out, guess we’ll have to fit the bill.
Please don’t forget to post this off to him and tell us if you receive a response