... as Raseroka makes way for Makheta in management reshuffle Leonard Neill SOUTH AFRICAN Airways has cut theft by almost 50% at its Johannesburg International Airport cargo centre since the carrier spent R3million on closed circuit television. In addition a staff incentive scheme which pays out bonuses as pilfering is reduced has been a big motivator, says Vincent Raseroka. The former vice president SAA Cargo released these figures as he left his office to take up a new appointment as executive vice president and chief executive of SAA Technical, a move which sees him vacate the post where he has been instrumental in the substantial increase in airline turnover profits during a two year spell. Goods worth R4 million were lost to theft in 1998. This was reduced to R2,5 million last year and Raseroka is confident this will fall below the R2 million mark in the current year. He has been succeeded by Tleli Makheta as vice president and general manager of SAA Cargo. Makheta has held the post of senior manager alliances and network development for the airline during the past 15 months, and will report to Raseroka until the end of the present financial year. Under Raseroka the cargo division increased turnover by 8% last year, contributing 15% of the airlineÕs annual revenue. Raseroka is confident this figure will increase to 18% in the current financial year and cites the decision to sell off the two expensive dedicated 747-200 freighters as a major factor. "Passenger growth is increasing by 4% a year whereas cargo growth is now at 7%. In other words we are running out of space to take full advantage of our growth potential. To cover this growth we are going to have to develop alliances with other freight carriers," he says. With his track record, Raseroka is obviously considered by SAA to be the ideal man for the transition to beef up activities in the technical division which has been a source of concern in recent months. His predecessor in the cargo hot seat, Kevin Wilson, proved his value in that area but found matters more difficult when appointed to head up the technical services.
