Johannesburg - South African Airways said acting chief procurement officer Masimba Dahwa was put on special leave in the wake of management turmoil at the unprofitable government-owned carrier.
Dahwa said in an e-mailed response to questions that he had been placed on special leave and that his attorneys are dealing with the matter, without giving more information.
SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali confirmed the move in a text message on Saturday. He did not provide any further details.
SAA, which is surviving on government-guaranteed loans, last month appointed Musa Zwane as its seventh acting or permanent chief executive officer in less than four years.
Other changes include the departure last month of CFO Wolf Meyer and director Anthony Dixon. chief strategy sfficer Barry Parsons left the company in July, while SAA said November 20 it had suspended chief commercial officer Sylvain Bosc.
South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has instructed SAA to complete a plane-leasing transaction with Airbus Group as planned, after rejecting a request from the airline to pursue an alternate deal.
BLOOMBERG