Johannesburg - South African Airways (SAA) lost 7,868 pieces of luggage in the three-month period from December 1 to February 29, South Africa's Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said Tuesday.

The baggage went missing from airports in five South African cities including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, Erwin was cited by the Sapa news agency as saying.

The lion's share of the luggage, some 7,617 pieces, was lost in Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport.

The figures contrast significantly with those recently published by SAA stating that around 6,600 passengers had luggage stolen yearly. (dpa)