JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday 28 October 2026 — Former South African Airways (SAA) acting group chief executive Matshela Seshibe has been found guilty on four of six charges in an internal disciplinary process concerning his previous management of the airline’s catering subsidiary, Air Chefs.
The findings, reported by Daily Maverick after examining a 56-page disciplinary outcome, concern executive remuneration approvals, expenditure controls and the management of a potential conflict of interest.
Disciplinary chair finds breaches
The proceedings were chaired by retired judge Basheer Waglay, a former Judge President of the Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court.
According to the reported findings, Seshibe approved salary adjustments for two Air Chefs executives without obtaining the required board approval.
The disciplinary chair found that the decisions breached the company’s delegation-of-authority requirements and resulted in irregular expenditure under the Public Finance Management Act.
A separate charge concerned an acting allowance that increased an employee’s monthly remuneration from R70,000 to R90,000.
The disciplinary outcome found that the increase exceeded the company’s permitted acting-allowance limits.
Conflict-of-interest finding
Seshibe was also found guilty of failing to declare and manage a potential conflict of interest involving a close relationship with a colleague whose remuneration and career progression he had influenced.
Seshibe disputed the characterisation of the relationship.
The disciplinary findings do not constitute a criminal conviction or establish that he committed fraud, theft or corruption.
Two charges dismissed
Waglay dismissed two other charges concerning the creation of a management position and changes to another employee’s responsibilities.
The disciplinary chair found that the employer had not established those allegations.
Seshibe has maintained that he was treated unfairly during the proceedings and that relevant documents were withheld from him.
SAA leadership uncertainty continues
Seshibe became acting SAA group chief executive in April 2026 after serving as Air Chefs chief executive.
He was placed on special leave in August while internal proceedings continued.
He subsequently challenged his exclusion from the recruitment process for the permanent SAA chief executive position but withdrew his urgent High Court application earlier this month.
The airline’s leadership and financial position have been under scrutiny following repeated executive changes and adverse audit findings.
Sanction still to be determined
The disciplinary findings do not represent a final decision on the sanction to be imposed.
Further submissions are expected before the process is concluded.
The outcome may influence Seshibe’s future within the airline group, although SAA has not announced a final employment decision arising from the findings.
