Dudu Myeni misled Parliament & Treasury over Airbus deal, court told
The former SAA board chairperson returned to the stand for a fourth day on Wednesday in her delinquency case.
PRETORIA - Former South African Airways (SAA) board chairperson Dudu Myeni has been accused of misleading Parliament as well as former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene regarding the failed deal with Airbus.
Myeni returned to the stand for a fourth day on Wednesday in her delinquency case.
#DuduMyeni The former SAA Board Chairperson arriving at the high court in Pretoria. EN pic.twitter.com/8Ich7PsPSV
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 25, 2020
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the South African Airways Pilots' Association (SAAPA) want her declared a delinquent director, arguing that SAA suffered massive financial losses during her tenure.
Myeni had still not given clear answers about why she disregarded a decision by Nene relating to the purchase of an A330 aircraft from Airbus.
Five years ago, SAA’s board decided on the deal, which was approved by National Treasury. But the evidence before courts suggests that Myeni refused to sign the agreement, claiming that an alternative was being sought with a local leasing company, among other things.
Carol Steinberg, representing Outa, argued that Myeni was warned that failure to sign would cost SAA as much as $114 million.
#DuduMyeni OUTA’S Carol Steinberg on the swapping of the transaction deal with Airbus- Steinberg says she is confused. EN pic.twitter.com/FGPagE6afO
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 25, 2020
She also said Myeni misled Parliament by claiming that SAA had been promised funding by a local financial institution.
“I do not agree that I lied in Parliament, my understanding then is totally different,” Myeni said in response to the allegations by Outa.
The former SAA board chairperson has been consistently accused of not telling the truth during her testimony, which was something she denied.