FORMER SAA Board chairperson Dudu Myeni refused to answer questions related to the airline at the State Capture Inquiry, saying she does not want to incriminate herself since there’s a court order out for her on the matter.
“I highly respect this commission, I always act responsibly and I am willing and have committed to present myself to this commission so that we deal, once and for all, with everything that has been said and all the false accusations and insinuations about me in my absence,” Myeni told the commission on Wednesday.
“The problem I have is that the court judgment, which I have been advised to appeal, is before the commission and it’s known and it’s public and therefore I would like to exercise my right and answer where I can.”
Evidence leader advocate Kate Hofmeyr struggled to extract answers from the former Mhlathuze Water chairperson during a dramatic day at the inquiry, where Myeni gave evidence remotely after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.
After initially responding to a question about her CV by stating that she would not answer it out of fear of incriminating herself, Myeni addressed her qualifications, but was not forthcoming with direct answers.
”My CV does not state that I have that qualification. My CV does not look like that. In my CV it’s very explicit that I studied but didn’t complete it,” said Myeni, responding to Hofmeyr’s questions about the status of her Bachelor of Administration degree at the University of Zululand.
She also defended her tenure as SAA chairperson, saying she did everything she ought to have done to discharge responsibilities as part of a collective.
Myeni has been implicated by several witnesses at the state capture inquiry including former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi.
Agrizzi alleged that Myeni was paid R300 000 monthly by Bosasa as she was powerful and ”very close” to former president Jacob Zuma.
Agrizzi said a designer hand bag from the Louis Vuitton stable was purchased and stuffed with R300 000 cash earmarked for the JZF.
The cash handovers happened several times at the Sheraton Hotel and at Bosasa premises, Agrizzi said previously.
Myeni told the commission that she would like to invoke her right to be silence on any matters pertaining SAA, saying there was a pending judgement regarding her SAA related matters.
“Chairperson, I’m being asked about the document that was prepared by Public Enterprises and not by myself therefore may I not answer that question Chairperson, just in case it incriminates me.”
Myeni is scheduled to continue testifying at the commission until Friday.
(SOURCE: INSIDE POLITICS)
