The cross examination of former SA Airways (SAA) chief executive Andre Viljoen in a competition tribunal hearing was postponed on Monday in Pretoria when he failed to appear.
Competition Tribunal chairperson David Lewis was informed by SAA’s advocate, advocate Rafik Bhana, that he was ”stucked” in Mozambique.
Bhana told Lewis Viljoen he had been on a family holiday, when his vehicle broke down three hours outside the capital of Maputo.
Willem Pretorius, advocate for the commission, argued that Viljoen could have made use of three flights to Johannesburg since Sunday afternoon, had he intended to keep Monday’s hearing.
Bhana again pointed out that Viljoen had broken down some distance outside of Maputo.
This is yet another delay to an investigation that has been on the go for the last four years.
SAA has been accused by the Nationwide airliner of using its dominant position to offer incentives to travel agents in exchange for tickets sales in SAA’s favour.
Comair, in a separate matter, has also brought a complaint against SAA.
The matter was postponed to November 8. – Sapa