# South African Airways strategic and regional developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-african-airways-strategic-and-regional-developments > Updated: 2026-09-17T19:09:50.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. The South African government has initiated a new process to find a strategic equity partner for South African Airways (SAA). This follows the failure of a March 2024 deal with the Takatso Aviation consortium, which collapsed due to valuation disagreements. The government aims to secure private capital and expertise to transform the carrier into a “credible, investable and self-sustaining” airline. While seeking financial restructuring, SAA has received industry recognition, winning the Top African Airline Award at the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market in Nigeria. However, the airline’s regional operations face headwinds from diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Nigeria. These tensions, stemming from concerns over xenophobia and the treatment of foreign nationals, have led the Nigerian Parliament to suspend official visits to South Africa. Despite these political challenges, SAA maintains a significant market share in both regional African routes and the domestic market. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-17: South African Airways wins industry award amid regional diplomatic tensions South African Airways won the Top African Airline Award in Lagos, even as xenophobic tensions and diplomatic boycotts from Nigeria threaten regional passenger traffic. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-african-airways-wins-industry-award-amid-regional-diplomatic-tensions ### 2026-09-02: South Africa seeks new strategic investor for South African Airways South Africa has launched a new search for a strategic investor for South African Airways following the collapse of a previous privatization deal with the Takatso Aviation consortium. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-seeks-new-strategic-investor-for-south-african-airways --- Cite as: South African Airways strategic and regional developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-african-airways-strategic-and-regional-developments