How SAA clipped pilots' wings

To many cash-strapped South Africans - at least those fortunate enough to have jobs - the refusal by the pilots of South African Airways (SAA) to accept an 8.5% pay rise offer from the company seems selfish.

After all, few people in employment this year got increases of even half that amount.

However, the reasons the pilots have decided to take strike action - and the background - are not quite so clear cut.

Many of the people currently in SAA's cockpits had to take serious hits to their lifestyles in the wake of the Covid shutdown that pushed the airline into business rescue.