FWIW, United has added SAA as an "Air Partner" on their website because of the codeshare flights between the US and SA. The flights are eligible to accrue mileage.

Here's the link to the site:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51396,00.html

This page used to say that redemption would start when SAA joins the star alliance in the first quarter of 2006, now it just says 2006. At least it is a start.

Scott