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Cape Town – South African Airways (SAA) chairperson Dudu Myeni wants to work hard for her money and will never accept a bribe, she told parliament on Wednesday.
Myeni, who is a close friend of President Jacob Zuma and is seen as untouchable, was grilled by politicians who decried SAA’s financial difficulties and irregularities as well as the instability of the core leadership.
READ: Disgruntled staff SAA's top priority, says new boss Musa Zwane
During a heated question and answer session, Myeni responded to concerns over her integrity as chairperson of the ailing state airline.
This follows Mail & Guardian’s report this year that ex-SAA CEO Monwabisi Kalawe paid R150 000 for evidence that showed that Myeni had foreign bank accounts containing €18.5m (R280m). However, the bank documents provided to him were fake.
It accused her of having received millions of rands through illegal deals involving an SAA tender and the Gauteng e-tolls contract.
“I don’t take bribes,” Myeni told parliament.
“Me being bribed is far from the truth,” she said. “It is important to state that it was confirmed that... these statements were bought and faked.
“It would be nice to have money that you work and sweat for,” she said. “I wouldn’t like to have my name next to those bank accounts.”
READ: SAA chair laments CFO departure, says gave him 110%
The M&G reported recently that Myeni was at loggerheads with Finance Minister Nhlanhle Nene, who is now in charge of SAA on behalf of the government.
“Sources in SAA said the relationship is so strained that the two have not held a meeting for some time,” it said.
Nene, who had committed to attend the joint sitting of the finance and public enterprise meeting, cancelled attending due to a last-minute cabinet meeting with Zuma.
Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, who attended instead, said that Treasury has been working tirelessly on a turnaround plan for SAA, which includes appointing a new board soon. He said they hold weekly meetings with the SAA board and keep a close eye on KPIs and demand explanations when targets are not met.
