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Former SAA technical board chairman Yakhe Kwinana told the state capture commission on Tuesday that it was not wrong for her to accept an invitation for a trip to visit an American aviation company, AAR, which later became bidder to work for the airline.
A YouTube screenshot of former SAA technical board chair and SAA board member Yakhe Kwinana, featured in the state seizure investigation on November 3, 2020.
JOHANNESBURG – Former South African Airways (SAA) technical board chair Yakhe Kwinana insisted Tuesday that it was not wrong for her to accept an invitation for a trip to visit the American aviation company, AAR, which would later be became a bidder to work for the airline. .
Kwinana told the state capture commission that AAR did not win the tender in question, and that showed that the trip did not affect the independence of decision-making.
“Whether AAR has bid or not, our visit to AAR was not informed as to whether they bid or not. Our visit was informed by a partnership agreement that we wanted to enter into at that time, ”Kwinana said.
He tried to convince the commission that his visit to the United States had no effect on the outcome, but the commission’s evidence leader, advocate Kate Hofmeyr, reminded him of what actually happened.
“I think it may be confusing you because what happened is that you go to the United States, AAR invites you and dinner, you come back and the board decides to withdraw that tender, that there were other competitors that could have been service providers for SAA Technical. And the board You decide to sign a memorandum of understanding with AAR. Don’t you find it problematic?
“I don’t see that as problematic,” Kwinana said in response.
Hofmeyr then asked him: “If other bidders complain, would they do it legitimately?”
“If a court says so, we consider it to be the best decision,” he said.
Kwinana denied being persuaded by AAR’s food and drink.
LOOK: Procedures of the state capture commission
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