DailySun
Johannesburg – The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has received a report concerning the disruptive actions of a female SABC employee, Nobuntu Mkhize, on a FlySafair flight traveling from Durban to Cape Town.
On Monday, (30 December 2024), SACAA announced that it had noticed several video clips circulating online featuring a passenger displaying unruly conduct on a FlySafair flight on Boxing Day, (Thursday, 26 December 2024).
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The SACAA, acting as the national regulator for civil aviation safety and security, confirmed that a detailed report from the airline has been forwarded to law enforcement for further inquiry.
Citing Section 135 of the Civil Aviation Act, the SACAA noted that unruly behaviour constitutes an offence that could lead to a prison term of up to six months.
Failure to comply with or disrupting the orders of cabin crew violates civil aviation regulations and may result in fines and imprisonment.
Poppy Khoza, the SACAA Director of Civil Aviation, condemned the incident strongly and emphasized the regulator’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate, or obstruct cabin crew members.
“It is crucial to recognize that cabin crew are licensed as Safety Officers under the Civil Aviation Regulations,” Khoza remarked.
“Their main duty is to uphold safety protocols and ensure the comfort of passengers.”
“The occurrences on board the aircraft were unfortunate and unacceptable as they compromised the safety of both passengers and crew.”
Khoza additionally stated, “Unruly behaviour, disruption, or indecency on any aircraft poses risks to the aircraft and its occupants, which is outright unacceptable.”
“We urge all passengers to respect and adhere to the instructions provided by the crew to uphold safety.”
“South Africa boasts an excellent air safety record, and we must not let individual actions jeopardize that standard.”
“While we appreciate the cooperation of passengers during this incident, we also commend the cabin crew for their efforts in de-escalating the situation to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Upon arriving in Cape Town, the woman was handed over to the police.
FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gorden stated, “We condemn any such behaviour. Flight attendants primarily serve as safety officers, and disrupting their role is a criminal offence.”
“This passenger will be added to our no-fly list and will not be permitted on future FlySafair flights.”
The African National Congress has distanced itself from the woman, who referenced the party during her confrontational interactions with the cabin crew.
The Patriotic Alliance has announced intentions to file a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against Mkhize.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has lodged a criminal complaint with the police, alleging that she directed racial slurs at the coloured community.
Mkhize insists that she was neither intoxicated nor disruptive, claiming instead that she was the victim of an assault.
