Dudu Myeni, the former chairperson of South African Airways and close associate of former President Jacob Zuma, has died. The Jacob Zuma Foundation confirmed her passing on Friday night. The foundation’s spokesperson, Mzwanele Manyi, requested privacy for the family during this difficult time.
Myeni’s death comes as she faced allegations of corruption. Her case at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg was postponed to November 2024 due to her health issues. She was previously arrested in September 2023, along with former Sondolo IT Director Trevor Mathenjwa, over fraud charges linked to BOSASA, a facilities management company. They were later released on bail.
The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture found Myeni guilty of facilitating corruption. The commission reported that BOSASA secured R2.3 billion in tenders from 2000 to 2016 by paying R75 million in bribes to politicians and officials, with Myeni playing a significant role. She was found guilty of arranging meetings between Zuma and BOSASA executives to influence tender processes.
Throughout her tenure as SAA chair from 2012 to 2017, the airline incurred significant losses, totaling R16.844 billion. In 2020, Judge Ronel Tolmay declared Myeni a delinquent director, banning her from holding any directorship roles for life.
Myeni missed her pre-trial hearing in May due to ongoing chemotherapy treatments. Her death marks the end of a controversial chapter in South African aviation history, marred by allegations of fraud and corruption.
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