This as Mothebe Shuttle Services from the Free State took SA Express to the South Gauteng High Court for allegedly failing to pay an amount of over R1,5 million for services received from Mothebe.

In a reply to this, the spokesperson of SA Express, Mpho Majatladi, says while SA Express had a contract with Mothebe for R1,3 million a year, that contract had subsequently been flagged as irregular. She further says if Mothebe continues to proceed with the matter of petitioning the court, the airline intends to respond appropriately within the legal framework. Majatladi says the director of Mothebe failed to disclose and declare a conflict of interest, based on the relationship that he had with SA Express’ procurement staff responsible for the tender.

“Mothebe Shuttle Services is among the contracts that were identified by a recent forensic investigation as irregular. The investigation also implicated SA Express procurement staff who were later charged with gross misconduct,” she adds.

She further says the airline has since opened criminal cases against the accused. The contract has also been reported as one of the irregular contracts to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry,” Majatladi continues. She adds that there were unauthorised scope and an irregular price increase on the tender. “While the contract was for R1,3 million a year, SA Express was surprisingly charged R1,1 million for four months — from 1 December 2017 to 4 April 2018 — which translated to R3,3 million a year, which was irregular,” Majatladi continues further.

Meanwhile speaking on behalf of Mothebe, Ian Small Smith says SA Express has neglected to pay the amount owed, and accordingly it is deemed to be unable to pay its debts. “The Applicant is entitled to a winding-up order,” he adds. In the court papers, Mothebe says it got a tender to transport SA Express’ staff, passengers, flight crew, and baggage to and from airports in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, George, Johannesburg, Kimberley, and Richards Bay.

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