Newsdeck
Dudu Myeni survives another day at SAA
Cape Town - South African Airways chairperson Dudu Myeni has been officially recommended to remain in the hot seat by Cabinet, it has been announced.
“Cabinet discussed the appointment of the board of South African Airways (SAA) and approved the following appointments,” Cabinet said in a statement on Friday.
It listed the appointments as follows:
Duduzile Cynthia Myeni (reappointment as chairperson);
Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (non-executive director);
Thandeka Nozipho Mgoduso (non-executive director);
Nazmeera Moola (non-executive director);
Akhter
Gugu Sepamla (non-executive director);
Peter Holmes Maluleka (non-executive director);
Mzimkulu Malunga (non-executive director);
Martha Mbatha (non-executive director); and
Peter Tshisevhe (non-executive director).
The formation of the board means Treasury will now release the embattled airline’s R5bn guarantee, which will then allow it to file its much-delayed annual financial results for 2014/15 as well as the 2015/16 results.
SAA has until September 15 to file these reports to Parliament.
The composition of the board is seen as a compromise between President Jacob Zuma and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
Apparently, Gordhan had months ago presented a board that excluded Zuma’s friend
While the Democratic Alliance said the inclusion of
“We must do political homework to get credible people on board,” Gordhan said in July. He said the new board and management team could include existing members and “new blood”.
Alf Lees, DA deputy shadow minister of finance, said on Thursday that Myeni’s reappointment will “be bad for SAA, bad for our economy and bad for Pravin Gordhan”.
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“We see the appointment as irrational,” Lees told Fin24 on Friday. “We need to look at what action we can take with regard to her appointment.
“It appears that some strong people have been appointed the board,” he said. “However, it doesn’t obviate our fears that
“The other board members will find themselves unable to perform their duties to sufficiently to save the airline.”
The DA has called for the financially embattled airline to be placed into business rescue.
Myeni, chair of the Jacob Zuma Foundation, is a close friend of the president and has allegedly been sheltered by the top boss in a tenure that has seen the national carrier face countless challenges.
Myeni has been chair since 2009 and can only serve three three-year terms, a person citing legislation told Business Day. That means she would likely not be able to serve beyond 2018.