Here is the crux of the matter. The cadet pilot program for SAA is a bit different to the other companies. Other companies start their program because based on their expansion plans where they foresee the need for extra pilots hence they have to train them. SAA doesn't have a shortage of pilots and at the current pace of company growth and the number of pilots that South Africa produces, there will never be. So, you must be wondering , why the cadets....Aviation in south africa is well dominated by one race which happens to be the minority in the country, and truth be told not the biggest support base for the current regime. Now the government tells SAA, the pilot compliment must include the other races and short of it the cadet pilot program was born. Not out of the need of it but to balance the numbers by theory that if they can train them, then they have a pool to select. Having said that SAA has been recruiting a lot in recent years owing to retirements and each year and the majority of recruits are still white male by a large margin (ask around if you don't believe) which doesn't sit very well with the shareholder.
So if there was no need to balance the numbers, there wouldn't be a cadet pilot program at SAA I tell you. Now, people don't ask me about the fairness and BEE etc, don't shoot the messenger.