South Africa's largest domestic airline moves closer to new ownership under a $3 billion-backed investor

South African billionaire Tshepo Mahloele is a step closer to adding the country's largest domestic airline to his infrastructure investment empire after the Competition Commission recommended approval of Harith Aviation's acquisition of Safair Holdings, the parent company of FlySafair.

• Tshepo Mahloele's Harith Aviation is close to acquiring Safair Holdings, parent of FlySafair, pending final approval by the Competition Tribunal.
• The Competition Commission recommended the deal with conditions to preserve competition, due to Harith's existing stake in Lanseria International Airport.
• Harith agreed to keep strict information barriers and ensure fair airport access for all airlines to address regulators' concerns about favoritism.

The acquisition expands Mahloele’s transport investments, positioning FlySafair alongside Harith's interests in airports and rail.

Harith Aviation, an investment vehicle of Harith General Partners—the infrastructure investment firm co-founded and chaired by Mahloele that manages more than $3 billion in assets across Africa—still requires final approval from the Competition Tribunal before the deal can be completed.

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The Commission said it had recommended the merger subject to conditions aimed at preserving competition, particularly because Harith already owns a significant stake in Lanseria International Airport, South Africa's only privately owned international airport.

Regulators were concerned that common ownership of both Lanseria and FlySafair could result in the airline receiving preferential treatment over its rivals.

To address those concerns, Harith agreed to implement strict information barriers between the airport and airline businesses and ensure Lanseria provides airport services to all carriers on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

Billionaire expands transport empire

The acquisition would significantly expand Mahloele's transport investment portfolio through Harith, which has built one of Africa's largest infrastructure platforms with investments spanning airports, rail, energy, telecommunications and logistics.

Harith already owns a major stake in Lanseria International Airport and has investments in rail operator Traxtion, positioning the acquisition of FlySafair as another strategic step toward building an integrated transport network across the continent.

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FlySafair has grown into South Africa's dominant domestic carrier following the collapse of rivals including Comair and Mango. The airline now commands the country's largest share of the domestic passenger market and also serves regional destinations across southern Africa.

The transaction also comes after years of regulatory scrutiny over FlySafair's ownership structure. South African aviation laws require domestic airlines to be at least 75% South African-owned, and the acquisition by Harith is expected to bring the airline into closer alignment with those requirements.

If the Competition Tribunal grants final approval, the deal would mark one of the most significant private investments in South Africa's aviation sector in recent years, strengthening Mahloele's position as one of the continent's most influential infrastructure investors while expanding Harith's footprint across Africa's transport industry.