Investigation ordered into how liquidated aviation firm allegedly secured state contracts

A company which benefited from questionable contracts across the state-controlled transport sector was audited and approved by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) in 2025, despite having been liquidated two years earlier. The authority said it only became aware of the liquidation this week afterThe Citizensent it questions on the matter. The revelation prompted Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to order independent forensic investigations into Sacaa, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and security contracts at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

Documents seen byThe Citizenshow that Reshebile Aviation and Protection Services was placed into final liquidation three years ago. Despite this, Sacaa’s January 2026 list of approved aviation security screening organisations continued to list the company as an approved provider authorised to conduct passenger, hold baggage, vehicle and cargo screening at several of South Africa’s major airports, with approval valid until 4 November this year. Reshebile was also recently named in media reports alleging the company continued to benefit from other state security contracts.

It was reported that Prasa relied on an Acsa recommendation to appoint Reshebile after its liquidation and that work later continued through Reshebile Aviation Solutions, a separate company with a different registration number. Sacaa spokesperson Sisa Majola said that the regulator audited Reshebile in 2025 and found it complied with the security requirements in Part 110 of the Civil Aviation Regulations, resulting in approval being issued. However, he said Sacaa was only notified of its liquidation on 4 August, 2026, (the dayThe Citizensent questions to it) and had since begun the required regulatory process.

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A Sacaa employee who blew the whistle on the matter toThe Citizenquestioned how a company placed into final liquidation in 2023 could pass a Sacaa audit in 2025, remain on the regulator’s approved list in January 2026 and only come to the regulator’s attention when questions were asked. Majola said Sacaa’s primary mandate is civil aviation safety, security and environmental compliance and does not extend to commercial matters unless they affect aviation safety and security.

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