By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Veli Nhlapho.
Former South African Airways (SAA) board chairperson, Dudu Myeni’s corruption case has been postponed to November 21, 2024 due to her ill health.
Myeni and former IT Director of Sondolo, Trevor Mathenjwa, are facing charges of corruption and fraud.
A spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Henry Mmamothame, said the state accused Myeni of failing to disclose her interests under the SAA Conflict of Interest Policy throughout her tenure as chairwoman.
“She is accused of corruption for accepting money from Bosasa subsidiary Sondolo IT, which was offered by Trevor Mathenjwa, the former director,” he said.
Additionally, Myeni received security upgrades for her Richards Bay home valued at approximately R200,000 between May 2014 and March 2015.
“She is also suspected of receiving hotel accommodations and travel expenses from Bosasa, arranged by Blake Travels, totalling more than R107,000 during the same period,” Mmamothame added.
The two are currently out on R10 000 bail, and they are expected to be back in court when the matter resumes in November, pending Myeni’s fitness to attend trial.
The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture found that Myeni, the chairperson of the Jacob Zuma Foundation, was guilty of facilitating corruption.
It found that she influenced Zuma to favour Bosasa.
The report said that Bosasa, involved in “industrial-scale corruption,” secured R2.3 billion in tenders from 2000 to 2016, paying R75 million in bribes to politicians and officials.
Myeni received R300,000 bribes regularly, dodged the Commission, and chose silence over self-incrimination.
Evidence presented before commission showed money was paid in cash, with Bosasa also sponsoring events and installing security at Myenis home.
Myeni is also alleged to have arranged meetings between Zuma and Bosasa boss Gavin Watson and was instrumental in halting investigations against Bosasa, even promising to have the National Prosecuting Authority drop the case against them.