The Citizens Complaints Commission (CCC) has directed the state-owned South African Airways (SAA) to provide accurate details about travellers from southern Africa, especially those from Mozambique and Swaziland.
“In its action since 1 May 2018, the Commission has noted that the names and nationalities of citizens of southern Africa, i.e. Mozambique and Swaziland, have not been disclosed on the Passenger Information Terminal (PIT) screens at all South African airports,” says a CCC statement.
The CCC was triggered into action by a complaint from Pieter-Duerson Kotze, who said he was “frustrated” when he flew to Johannesburg from Maputo, Mozambique, to attend a social function. The CCC said he wrote to SAA asking for the nationalities of passengers from southern Africa and was informed that it was unable to share that information.
In a complaint, Kotze said: “Although I was advised that the required passenger details were not available for me at Maputo Airport, I proceeded to South Africa through Johannesburg for my intended business travel. During this travel, I was prompted to exit the [SAA] check-in area at Pretoria International Airport for domestic travel. The name I provided in order to process my domestic ticket was incorrect and my passport number had incorrect dates on the page when I presented the correct passport with correct information for my domestic travel.
“At this stage, I attempted to re-present my passport with the correct information to verify the passenger details and to rectify the discrepancy prior to boarding the aircraft. I provided my contact details and my travel schedule to the attendant. He confirmed that I could board the aircraft.”
However, Kotze said, he had been informed by SAA employees that his ticket had not been filled out by his travel agent.
“I could not understand this significant omission since it meant that my domestic journey was unbooked at its point of origin,” said Kotze.
The CCC said it “directly intervened to resolve this matter”, ordering SAA to supply all information requested by Kotze. It also ordered SAA to provide the passenger details of those travelling from the southern African countries to South Africa.
Namibia must be pushed to address death penalty
Namibia must follow the lead of Australia, the Legal Aid Commission (LAC) says. Australian law enforcement, with support from the Legal Aid Commission, struck off a drug dealer convicted of murdering a police officer in the Northern Territory in a marijuana-trafficking plot.
She insists that if the law is not enforced in the Territory, Australia’s “suspected drug traffickers” will be unlikely to face the reality of the death penalty.
Namibia must abide by international law, says its Legal Aid Commission.
Elderly woman sues Toyota over faulty brakes
An elderly woman is suing Toyota Kirloskar for physical injuries she claims were caused by defective brakes on a vehicle sold by the company.
Mischa Nielsen, 76, of Johannesburg, brought the case against Toyota Car Sales in Johannesburg’s Vlakplaas court, claiming damages of 5.3 million rand (£278,931).
Her case alleges that a Lexus LFA outfitted with electronic stability control failed to take off or stop in July 2017 in the Nkandla suburb of Johannesburg.
The plaintiff claims the car was driven through the gates of JW Casino on the Bophuthatswana border and that the plaintiff’s passenger, Marian Houghton, who was 82 at the time, fell from the car in mid-air while trying to protect her.
The case was heard on Wednesday.