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Dudu Myeni. (Photo: Gallo Images)
Controversial former South African Airways (SAA) president Dudu Myeni was unable to appear in person at the Zondo Commission at the state capture Wednesday due to exposure to Covid-19.
She was linked to the process through an internet link, which initially gave some problems due to lack of bandwidth.
“The Covid-19 exposure notification happened while my day assistant was at home, so she is here and my paralegal is here. That is why I was unable to appear before the commission. I am watching the progress on my side and taking the necessary measures. Precautions. I have not felt anything yet, but the other person confirms positive, “Myeni explained to Zondo. His image was projected on a large television screen.
Leader of evidence adv. Kate Hofmeyr informed Myeni at the beginning of the procedure that she is not allowed to receive any “help” during her testimony and that if her legal representatives wanted to communicate with her, they should indicate it and the commission would suspend the session for this purpose.
Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo informed Myeni that he may have to come in person at some point when his health permits.
Earlier this year, Myeni was declared a delinquent director by the Pretoria High Court, due to her actions while on the SAA board.
Once Myeni’s virtual link was finally established, he told Zondo that while he respects the commission and wants to help, he is in a difficult position “because there is a court order that orders that I be charged in this regard.” However, this did not mean that the process could be started, because he later stated that he does not necessarily intend to answer any or all of the questions asked.
“I am anxious to be forced to renounce my constitutional right not to incriminate myself. In my affidavit made for the Commission I refer to the relevant documentation,” Myeni said.
“I always act responsibly. I am willing to attend and deal once and for all with all the false accusations that are made in my absence, but there is a court ruling that has advised me to appeal and I want to exercise my right and respond when I can and be in silence where I can “.
This led to the proceedings being stopped so that Myeni’s trial leader and legal representatives, who were present in person at the scene, could discuss what kinds of questions she would be willing to answer and which ones she would not.
Just before the postponement, Zondo told Myeni that the commission would not seek to intentionally and legally infringe on his constitutional rights. He added that there have been occasions in the past when witnesses have adopted more or less the same attitude.
During the delinquent director’s trial, Sylvain Bosc, a former SAA commercial director, testified that it was not “weird” for Myeni to “invoke” the name of former president Jacob Zuma to get things done. Bosc testified that by failing to sign an expanded codeshare partnership with Emirates in 2015, SAA missed an opportunity to generate revenue and caused great embarrassment when the deal fell through at the last minute. Evidence in court indicated that the expanded relationship with Emirates would have generated SAA $ 100 million in annual revenue.
The court heard that Myeni instructed then-acting CEO Nico Bezuidenhout, shortly before the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the matter in June 2015, not to go ahead. She alleged that the instruction came from former President Jacob Zuma. She, therefore, interfered in operational matters.
