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Johannesburg – South African Airways’ reappointed chairperson Dudu Myeni has defended herself claiming that there is a campaign out to paint her as incompetent without any proof to support the claim.
“They say you are going to fail, you are going to drop the standards, maybe the airline will decline because it’s being led by a black person, touch wood that will never happen and it has never happened,” Myeni told a group of concerned citizens and a handful of journalists at Airways Park in Kempton Park on Thursday.
Myeni took part in a public meeting initiated by Black First Land First’s Andile Mngxitama, who along with other civil organisation leaders wanted clarity on issues ranging from corruption, privitisation, transformation and the financial status of the national airline.
READ: I can’t be blamed for SAA’s mess – Dudu Myeni
She also addressed the R6bn airbus deal, which resulted in a standoff with treasury when the SAA board sought to amend the structure of the procurement. In 2002, SAA ordered 40 aircraft from Airbus, 30 were delivered by 2013. In 2014, SAA took a decision to amend the original contract by wanting to swap the remaining ten with aircraft that had bigger engines and were more fuel efficient.
Myeni explained that during this period SAA had been seeking to establish its own leasing company, claiming it would have been cheaper and easier for business but that it was seen as a dodgy deal and an attempt to create jobs for cronies.
“We were chastised but we were not worried because from the beginning you’ve always been a suspect, you’ve always been a thief, you’ve always been corrupt, even before you open your mouth. You driving your Mercedes, you must have stolen it.”
Transformation resulted in hatred and stories being created about me
Myeni said her calls to address the transformation deficit at the company where only 2% of its procurement budget of R24bn goes to black business left an unsavoury taste in the mouths of many at SAA.
“I am incompetent because I said R24bn must benefit black South Africans, I’m also incompetent because I have seen the reason why the airline is losing money, she said.
Myeni further said her call left others making up stories about her.
“There is also a myth that we changed a number of CEO's, a CEO here, a CEO there…. Nobody has ever asked why the CEO has left the company.
"Nobody has ever asked why Dudu has been overseas and stuff like that, instead a focus on Dudu. Having bank accounts overseas instead of what were the charges for the person who had to leave the company."
Myeni’s reappointment is being challenged by the DA which has said she had a record of financial mismanagement from even before her tenure at the national carrier, but Myeni believes there is nothing in her history that should cast a shadow of doubt when it comes to her capabilities to fulfill her tasks as head of the SAA board.
READ: Why DA is contesting Myeni's reappointment
“I want to give you assurance that we found the airline in dire straits, there were people who were aviation experts who were here before us and there is a myth that this chairperson is incompetent, but I am yet to find the yard stick they are using to assess my competence,” said Myeni.
Myeni said she aims to leave the airline on a positive note, having halved its losses.
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