South African Airways (SAA) welcomed the delivery of its first A330-200 aircraft at a ceremony attended by South African President Jacob Zuma.

Also present at the ceremony, held earlier this week at Cape Town International Airport, were airline board members, management and staff, as well as hosts, SAA chairwoman Cheryl Carolus and SAA chief executive Siza Mzimela.

The aircraft will commence its commercial operations on 14 February under the moniker “Charlotte Maxeke”, named by President Zuma in honour of the first African woman to graduate in South Africa.

Born in 1874, Ms Maxeke received a Bachelor of Science degree from Wilberforce University in Cleveland, Ohio.