according to an internal bulletin the Cadet scheme is not dead, just on hold for now, as you know the new boss is trying to save the airline to a profit while everyone else expands go figure, I am not defending mamagement in any way, just letting you know that its a great place to work if you forget the politics, most of the guys are happy with conditions of employment, aircraft etc, a few guys coming back from Singapore (were on contract) not happy over there, with the rand where it is not that great any more, also the local aircrew over there treat you like sh_t as an expat pilot, If you want to go to the sandpit well good for you, I have flown contract work and you can keep it.
With the Cadet scheme on hold and our current shortage (fact) it has got to be only a matter of time before they start hiring, remember not too far back during the old regime, SAA went through an 8 year period of not hiring anyone, definitley not that bad at the moment...........Hope this helps, for those of you who want to come to SAA, to those who dont well there are many others out there, just dont expect same pay, benefits, modern aircraft, etc (wait for all the replies now with "the poor tax payer blah blah blah" give it a rest have heard that one before)