LGW could very soon be offering direct flights to South Africa once again.
Comair plans to launch direct flights from Durban to London Gatwick in 2012. An exact launch date has not yet been announced.
BusinessDay - Durban to get London flight
Comair have not decided which of there two airline brands will be used to operate the service. Comair currently operate as a BA franchise carrier in South Africa. They also operate the low cost kulula.com brand.
Personally, I can't see BA allowing Comair to use the BA brand to operate the route. However BA could suprise everyone and lease one of there 767's that are planned for retirement from 2012 to Comair.
It will be interesting to see what decisions Comair come to over the months to come.
Nationwide was the last carrier to operate direct flights to South Africa from LGW. Unfortunately Nationwide's service to JNB was dropped in 2008.