I believe that those affected by the new AA employment policies at SAA are direct entry candidates, and not cadet route pilots. Rumour has it that many of those now being appointed have been previously turned down as unsuitable, but are now being appointed by "political pressure" applied from outside SAA!
Note with interest an article on NEWS24 website today regarding the training of SAAF pilots. Apparently similar "pressure" is being applied to pass pupils who have not met the required performance standards.
Sad & worrying, if it's true.