Video footage, of SABC employee, Nobuntu Mkhize (43) filmed by passengers on a FlySafair trip non Boxing Day shows the woman throwing a fit along with flight attendants and passengers and demanding to be served a drink.
FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gorden said, the airline handed the woman over to police when they landed in Cape Town. “We condemn any behaviour of this nature. Flight attendants have a primary duty as safety officers and interfering with their duties is a criminal offence. This passenger will be placed on our no-fly list and will not be welcome on future FlySafair flights,” he said. SAPS said, Police said, “During police intervention, the passenger continued to display riotous behaviour by insulting SAPS members and threatened to sue them.”
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has in a statement noted with concern, audio-visual material circulating on various social media platforms featuring a staff member travelling on a South African airline.
The SABC said they “regret this incident, and always encourages staff members to uphold the SABC values of respect and integrity in all their interactions. In the video clip, this staff member mentions the SABC and states that this incident will be broadcast on SABC News,” the statement reads. “We would like to reiterate that SABC News is guided by the Editorial Code and maintains its editorial independence, and the decisions pertaining to all news items are made in the Newsroom and not influenced by non-editorial staff members. The SABC will use the relevant channels in line with its internal procedures to engage the staff member.
Nobuntu said, after attending her first court appearance that she wa snot intoxicated when the incident happened. “We had checked in and then decided to go to the slow lounge, and then at the slow lounge, we ate quickly, and we had one drink, which was the whiskey. We were running late, then we went and boarded the plane. When we got inside the plane, I was not drunk, I was sober as a judge,” she said. “She asked us what we wanted to have, and that’s when I asked what kind of cooldrinks they had. I asked if they had passionfruit lemonade. She replied, no. Then I asked if they had Grapetizer. That’s when she got annoyed with me and responded in isiXhosa, saying ‘uyadika’ and refused to serve me. That’s when I said, excuse me, because I did not understand why she would not serve me.”
Bongi Sikelo 