The Final Descent: SA Express Brand and IP Offered for R150,000 as Liquidation Concludes

Almost six years after entering provisional liquidation, the winding up of SA Express is 90 percent complete, with its brand identity now for sale for R150,000.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 24, 2026, 8:38 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from BusinessTech

A Multi-Year Winding Up Process

The journey toward the final dissolution of SA Express has been long and complex. The airline first entered provisional liquidation on April 28, 2020, following years of insolvent trading and a failed attempt to secure post-commencement financing during business rescue. A final liquidation order was eventually delivered by the South Gauteng High Court in September 2022.

Appointed liquidator Aviwe Ndyamara updated the Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings, stating that the administration of the estate is expected to be finalized by April 2026. This timeline is contingent on the resolution of the final asset sales and the verification of remaining employee claims.

The R150,000 Brand Valuation

Perhaps the most striking detail of the current liquidation phase is the valuation of the SA Express brand. Once a prominent player in South African regional aviation, the airline's intellectual property and brand identity are now being marketed for R150,000. This residual asset represents one of the final pieces of the company to be sold off for the benefit of creditors.

The airline’s tangible assets were largely depleted after the Air Services Council cancelled its licenses in July 2022. Earlier attempts to save the carrier, including a R50 million bid by a consortium of employees to acquire tangible assets, ultimately did not prevent the final liquidation. With liabilities once approaching R1 billion, the free residue available for creditors now stands at approximately R3.7 million.