No whites please, we're South African!
As much as nobody who is in any management position would like to admit it (publicly), SAA has only considered white pilots in recent years when it has been absolutely necessary to do so. I emigrated in 2005 when I realised that SAA was just out of my reach. I'm no extraordinary pilot, but I did feel that I had the qualifications (7000 hours total and a Grade 1 DE). I flew for a regional airline, on a jet, at the time. What really "nailed" it for me was a telephonic conversation with one of the Captains who was on the selection board. I thank him for his honesty because it was then that I realised that I was now from the wrong "demographic" group and it would remain an uphill struggle to achieve my long-term professional goals.
I now fly a Gulfstream corporate jet in international operations and have gained some amazing experience from North America to Hong Kong and lots in between!
Despite this, guess what I did this year?? I sent my CV, via a friend who is in SAA, to the Chief Pilot!! And guess what??? The answer was exactly the same again! Did I loose heart? You bet! Will I give up? Not just yet! I still have this dream, one that I've had for a long time, and I'm not ready to relinquish it just yet.
So, despite the title that I chose, all I can say to any pilot out there, SA expat or not, if you want to get into SAA, keep on trying! Who knows...that window/door might just open at the time that you do!
Good luck to all of you out there who also have a dream.