SAA tells staff October salaries will be paid late
South African Airways will pay October salaries on staggered dates from 27 October to 31 October, not on the usual 25th. It is the second month in a row that staff will be paid late.
Acting chief human capital officer Lourens Erasmus issued the internal communique. September salaries were paid around 2 October.
An insider with close knowledge of the situation said the airline is running out of money and may soon be grounded. Another unnamed source said some service providers now demand prepayment, and that the airline runs only on bank credits.
SAA spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini said management is taking measures to manage the sustainability of the business. He also said geopolitical developments raised operating costs, especially fuel, and put pressure on liquidity.
The government gave SAA a R1bn guarantee in August 2026 for its immediate working capital needs. The airline also holds R223m in other guarantees, tied to unflown-ticket liabilities and corporate letters of credit. The National Treasury medium-term budget policy statement said a global jet fuel price shock widened the airline's fiscal exposure in 2026.
Key facts
- Who
- Lourens Erasmus (SAA acting chief human capital officer, issued the communique to staff); Mphilo Dlamini (SAA spokesperson); South African Airways (state airline)
- What
- South African Airways informed staff through an internal communique that salaries will be staggered from October 27 to October 31 instead of being paid on the 25th. An insider said the airline is running out of money and may soon be grounded; SAA spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini said management is taking measures to manage the business's sustainability.
- When
- 22 October 2026
- Where
- South Africa
- Status
- Reported