- Parliament recently heard that Zimbabwe owed South African Airways more than R900 million
- The debt, linked to ticket sales on SAA routes to Harare and Victoria Falls, has accumulated since 2020
- Social media users weighed in on the debt, sharing varied reactions to the amount and the possible repayment
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
GAUTENG — Social media users have weighed in on Zimbabwe's R900 million owed to South African Airways (SAA), with Parliament told this week that no repayment deadline has been agreed upon.
Officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) appeared before Parliament's Standing Committee on Appropriations, where they confirmed that the department has been facilitating ministerial-level talks through the Bi-National Commission shared by the two countries.
The objective is to secure the release of funds owed to South African companies, including SAA. Key details of the Bi-National Commission negotiations, including any proposed new repayment terms, remain confidential.
How the debt build up?
The outstanding amount relates to ticket sales on SAA's routes to Harare and Victoria Falls. The funds became trapped inside Zimbabwe from 2020 onwards as the country battled severe liquidity shortages.
The Auditor-General's office disclosed to Parliament in April that Zimbabwe's portion of the debt had grown to more than R900 million. Across all countries, SAA is owed approximately R1.4 billion, a burden the Auditor-General warned was threatening the airline's long-term sustainability.
MPs pressed DIRCO officials for exact figures and repayment plans during Tuesday's session, but neither was disclosed in the open sitting. The committee proceeded to continue deliberations behind closed doors.
Zimbabwe had previously proposed repaying the debt at a rate of one million US dollars per quarter, roughly R16.5 million, a pace that would have taken more than 16 years to clear the full amount. SAA rejected the offer in 2024. In the same year, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy indicated to Parliament that the government would explore diplomatic avenues to recover the money.
How did South Africans react?
The news drew sharp reactions on social media, with many South Africans expressing frustration over the unresolved debt.
Suresh Parus wrote:
"That money will be distributed to all Zimbabweans who were looted whilst here."
Farm Fan said:
"The Zimbabwean state has the money, their presidents' motorcade, and security costs close to a quarter of a billion. So they should pay."
Themba Nkontwana said:
"The pain of paying so much tax every month, only for it to be donated to other countries."
Bradley Meredith added:
"It's the taxpayers' money. We insist that the debt be repaid."
Mbuso S. Galuza KaMabaleka offered a different framing:
"To put it clearly, it's ANC and ZANUPF. Not South Africa and Zimbabwe."
Artwell Mudzingwa wrote:
"The money will be used to compensate families of those killed in SA during xenophobia. Your loss."
Christo Goodman said:
"If there were no colonial borders and the United States of Africa ran as one powerful and rich country.. This nonsense of payback wouldn't have been necessary."
Zimbabwe indebted to SAA and other airlines
Briefly News reported that Zimbabwe has found itself in more financial predicaments and owes a number of airlines billions of rands.
Due to the lack of foreign currencies in Zimbabwe, individuals and companies have not been able to recover their monies.
The International Monetary Fund says it can no longer offer Zimbabwe financial assistance until the country restructures its debt.
Source: Briefly News
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