SAA is not the only airline in the world that is being backed up financially by its parent state. However SAA has shown, for the first time in a very, very long time, that it may be turning a corner in its ability to turn a profit, but isn't quite there without the help of the tax payer, yet. The RSA government also applies various 'strategic' and politically motivated demands on the airline to service routes that the airline would like to give up. The same goes for some of its staff and departments.
This is not the United States of America where a deregulated, private airline industry rides the waves of the economy, without state assistance.
This is South Africa.
This is also PPRUNE, not a political or economic debating forum. Start a rumour about sub-standard training or unsafe flight operations at SAA and then at least the debate will be informative and interesting, albeit cut short by fact.