A number of prospective investors have expressed an interest in buying a stake in Airports Company SA, but the state-owned entity, which runs the country's main airports, is not for sale, according to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula. "ACSA is not only a strategic national asset with an important role to play in South Africa's economic reconstruction and recovery, but also in enabling the growth of the aviation sector in Africa," Mbalula said in a statement on Friday. "It is on this basis that the government has no intention to divest the equity it holds in ACSA, in favour of private shareholding in the foreseeable future." Government owns a 74.6% stake in ACSA and the Public Investment Corporation holds 20%. The rest is held by a number of private investor groups. "While it is true that ACSA has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of travel restrictions, it remains on course on the recovery path," said Mbalula.
