Former SA Airways CEO Vuyisile Kona has gone to court to challenge his axing by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

Kona applied for a review of Gigaba's decision, which he took just months after head-hunting him to bring stability to the state-owned airline.

The review may clear a way for Kona to claim possible damages.

Kona was suspended in February after the SAA board decided to investigate allegations of him contravening the Public Finance Management Act.

He was then fired in March.

Kona's attorney Eddie Classen told Business Day the application to review Gigaba's decision was filed in the High Court in Pretoria late last month.

Kona had resisted his removal from the board after he was suspended pending an investigation into decisions he had taken as CEO.

One of Kona's decisions was to hire Lufthansa Consulting to help draft a turnaround strategy for the airline.

SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali told Business Day that investigations into Kona's conduct had been completed.

Kona declined to comment on his court application.