That rumour has been doing the rounds at SAA for a while as well. We hear it as Star require 2 full days off on a layover, the result will be the same.
Don't expect sudden changes in our crew staffing, our crew manager is leaving end of next month, and the powers-that-be have yet to advertise the post, never mind start training somebody to see into the crystal ball.
Yes, the light at the end of this tunnel is the 3:45 gautrain from Tswane!