"One can only but wonder why anyone would want to buy a 7 seat helicopter that cannot carry any passengers, and are only good for cropspraying and external cargo operations?"
Seats are really not an issue. Folks who use these aircraft in the states use them primarily for Forest Service work. They can sling a good bucket of water and also are good for Vert Ref Sling work.
"If this helicopter is not certified to carry passengers, then it will be interesting to see what the SACAA intends doing when they do start flying the passengers.".
I think we already know the answer to that after the ass whuppin they took on the first Huey. It doth appear they (SACAA) have neither the expertise in the system or the proper legal representation to do anything other than sit back and watch the show............