SAA B738 at Johannesburg on Dec 24th 2013, did not retract landing gear

A SAA South African Airways Boeing 737-800, registration ZS-SJS performing flight SA-555 from Johannesburg to Durban (South Africa), did not retract the landing gear while climbing out of Johannesburg, stopped the climb at 9000 feet and returned to Johannesburg for a safe landing with emergency services on stand by about 30 minutes after departure.

The flight and return flight SA-562 were cancelled.

A ground observer reported the aircraft did not retract the landing gear after departure from Johannesburg and returned for a safe landing after a fully deployment of emergency services.

A passenger in Durban complained later the afternoon that SAA had cancelled most of the flights from Durban to Johannesburg.