# Suspended SAA CEO sues airline over permanent job

> Matshela Seshibe challenges South African Airways after being excluded from the permanent CEO recruitment process while facing unresolved disciplinary charges.
- Title: Suspended SAA CEO sues airline over permanent job | Shortify
- Summary: Matshela Seshibe challenges South African Airways after being excluded from the permanent CEO recruitment process while facing unresolved disciplinary…
- Keywords: matshela seshibe, south african airways, air chefs, ceo recruitment, disciplinary charges, high court, employment dispute, news, politics, Suspended, SAA, CEO
- Source: Daily Maverick — https://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-14-suspended-saa-acting-ceo-takes-airline-to-court-for-fair-shot-at-permanent-job
- Author: Lindsey Schutters
- Published: 2026-10-14T16:11:37+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: matshela seshibe, south african airways, air chefs, ceo recruitment, disciplinary charges, high court, employment dispute, news, politics
## Acting CEO put on suspension
Matshela Seshibe was serving as acting group CEO of South African Airways when Air Chefs brought confidential internal disciplinary charges against him on fourteen August. SAA placed him on special leave.
## Excluded from CEO job interview
On twenty-three August, SAA advertised the permanent CEO position. Seshibe applied, qualified and was shortlisted. But SAA then cancelled his interview, excluding him from the recruitment process because of the disciplinary charges.
## Five claims of unfair treatment
Seshibe claims SAA disqualified him over unproven charges, denied him a fair hearing, damaged his reputation, ignored his track record making Air Chefs profitable, and ignored his lawyers' letter of seven October.
## SAA's corporate affairs response
SAA corporate affairs chief Mphilo Dlamini said the matter is sub judice and before the court, so SAA will address it through appropriate legal processes and will not comment further through the media.

> SAA will address it through the appropriate legal processes.
## Court asked for two outcomes
Seshibe is asking the court to either force SAA to interview him for the permanent CEO role, or freeze the entire hiring process until his internal disciplinary proceedings with Air Chefs have concluded.
## Urgent hearing scheduled for Tuesday
Seshibe filed an urgent application because SAA intends to appoint a new permanent CEO before the end of October twenty twenty-six. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, twenty October.
## Key takeaway

Matshela Seshibe, SAA's acting CEO, is suing the airline for excluding him from the permanent CEO job while facing internal disciplinary charges he denies, seeking either an interview or a freeze on the hiring process.