SATS, noun

/sæts/
Forms:
Also Sats.
Origin:
Acronym formed on South African Transport Services.
historical
A parastatal organization controlling the railways, road transport services, harbours, airports, and the national air carrier, South African Airways (see SAA). Cf. SAR noun2. Also attributive.
Note:
In 1981, the former SAR (& H) was renamed ‘SATS’ in terms of the South African Transport Services Act; in 1990 the organization was privatized and renamed ‘Transnet’.
1982 E. Prov. Herald 31 Dec. 2Sats order of 50 locos to cost R47,5m.
1983 S. Afr. Panorama Apr. 2South African Transport Services (SATS) has developed into a mammoth organisation with an annual expenditure approaching the seven thousand million rand mark.
1987 S. Afr. Digest 1 May 5Sats officials finalised arrangements to fire the 16 000 striking workers who had failed to return to work.
1989 E. Prov. Herald 23 Feb. 5Draft legislation has..been tabled..to provide for the creation of a private company, and for Sats to be divided into separate semi-independent business units.
1989 D. Briscoe in Motorist Nov. 6Well, it’s not the Blue Train of course. Be prepared to share a SATS green bench in part of the guard’s van.
1990 Sunday Times 18 Mar. 7When Thulsee M—..phoned Transnet – previously Sats – to book his trip, he was told he could not travel in the coach he picked as it was for whites only.
A parastatal organization controlling the railways, road transport services, harbours, airports, and the national air carrier, South African Airways (see SAA).
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acronyms
historical
Satour, nounn.SATV, nounn.
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