The South African Civil Aviation Authority has emphasised the importance of maintaining the country’s safety record in the skies. This warning comes amid ongoing disruptions impacting several local airlines.

The disruptions have been caused by delays in renewing essential flight procedures at a number of airports by the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS).

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has also expressed serious concern, especially as the latest issues come during a turnaround process at the struggling entity.

South African Civil Aviation Authority Director Poppy Khoza says it is important that South Africa maintains the Zero fatalities in the sky status.

“As the regulator, ours is really to ensure that aviation safety is preserved, and that we do not put your protection. Our record of a 0% accident rate, particularly in the airline sector. And therefore, of course, we will do what is expected of us as a regulator, in terms of ensuring that we do not approve anything that is substandard, and that whatever that will pass through our hands. It must have gone through all the rigorous checks that are expected. And if there are any flight procedures that are not fit, uh, to the flown, we are able to withdraw them. This is what is expected of the regulator. So we’re going to be accused later of sleeping on the job.”