This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
On September 4, 2019, a South African court made a significant decision regarding an Air Tanzania plane, which had been impounded since August 24, 2019.
The plane, an Airbus 220-300, was prevented from taking off from Johannesburg due to a court injunction. The injunction was a result of a dispute between a retired farmer and the Tanzanian government, who had seized the farmer's land in the 1980s.
The farmer was seeking compensation of at least $13 million, which the Tanzanian authorities acknowledged was owed. However, their lawyer argued that South Africa had no jurisdiction over the dispute.
After a court hearing, the judge ordered the petitioner to pay the costs of the case. The Tanzanian government spokesman, in a tweet, thanked citizens for their patience and expressed relief that the matter was being resolved.
On August 28, 2019, a group of Tanzanians in Dar es Salaam protested against the impounding of the plane, demanding its release. The protesters were later dispersed by Tanzanian riot police.
It is worth noting that Air Tanzania had revived flights to South Africa in June, aiming to bolster relations and boost tourism between the two countries.
- Additional reporting by Valerie Koga.
