Tired, sorry to see that you feel that SAA are the bad boys in this case. I don't know about reverting to type, this deal was brokered by the new boss, not the 'old boys club' of yesteryear.
My understanding (limited as it may be) is that Sunair was up the creek without a paddle, big time. SAA started to negotiate with them about 3 weeks before the collapse, planning a 3 month inquiry as to the viability of the airline, when events started to overtake even them. The decision was made, in conjunction with Comair (25% shareholder), the black empowerment group (the remaining 75%), SAA (as the only big/stable airline in the region) and the government Competitions Board, that a steady, controlled liquidation was much more preferable to the shambles that followed the Phoenix collapse.
Matbe SAA should have stayed out, not put a rescue plan into place for all the Sunair pax, and not paid the employees salaries until the end of the month (and interviewed most of the ground staff and cabin crew for jobs), and let the Sunair management explain to everybody why there was no pay past 15th August, no flights for those who'd paid for their tickets, etc.
Sure, SAA did not do this all from the good of their hearts, there will be some payback, maybe just in pax who now have to use SAA, or gaining some excellent staff, but either way, I think it was better as an orderly liquidation than a slow crumble to nothing.
Well, we're all entitled to an opinion!
skyvan