South Africa: South Africa Turns to Diplomacy to Recover R900m National Airline Debt From Zimbabwe

What the report says

South African officials are using diplomatic channels to try to recover money allegedly owed by Zimbabwe to South African businesses, including South African Airways (SAA), according to New Zimbabwe via AllAfrica. The matter came up during a parliamentary session in South Africa, where members of Parliament pressed officials for details on foreign debts owed to the government and possible repayment plans.

The report said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has been raising the issue in bilateral commission meetings between ministers and through letters and meetings arranged by Minister Ronald Lamola. DIRCO’s chief director, Nyameka Goso, said the department can help facilitate talks but cannot compel another country to carry out decisions made in those forums. Committee chair Mmusi Maimane questioned whether diplomacy alone could secure repayment.

The article said Parliament was told in April that SAA’s long-term sustainability was being affected by unpaid amounts from foreign countries, and that Zimbabwe owed the airline more than R900 million in ticket sales, according to the Auditor-General’s office. DIRCO also said other cross-border payment issues remain difficult, including toll revenue at the Beitbridge border and the repatriation of money by South African mining companies. The outcome of the talks was not disclosed, as the committee moved into a closed session.