Shrike200 put it quite well.
I would add that while the vast majority of pilots were trained to a 'standard' ie. passing a CPL / ATPL and IR skills test on a regular basis, however, the management who made decisions and ran the contracts, and day to day business of the operations base were not trained to the standard, if at all in the job they were doing, is why I think so many SA operators ultimately failed.
These operators were awarded contracts from the likes of the UN, W.H.O and the ICRC etc and were paid very well and still opeartors paid staff poorly and eventually folded.
But, on the other side of the coin, directors and aircraft owners got very rich out of these contracts.