SAA would've had the 330's yesterday (I was told this by the chief pilot himself). But there are just none available (the price of early indecision).
Regarding ETOPS. The only reason the 319 can't do it over water is due to the lack of rafts. But the 320 will easily fit into the ETOPS needs if so required. The company does not need to demonstrate realibility on the 777 to obtain 777 ETOPs. It's based on performance and history using the current and past a/c maintenance, training, etc. in the company. So, theoretically SAA could operate a 777 today, no problem.
Boeing already demonstrated to the pilot group during their presentation at Airways park a couple of months ago, how they would deploy a 777 on direct routes to and from New York/Joburg. I asked the product engineer where these trip7's were coming from, she said "don't worry, where there's a will there's a way, and the SA govt. has a special understanding with Boeing..."
so...who the heck knows what's really going on?