OUTA & SAAPA oppose Dudu Myeni’s attempt to blame everyone else
This is a civil action to declare Myeni a delinquent director, as a result of her conduct while chairing the SAA board.
Today Myeni’s team brought an application to change the pleadings, to join all other SAA directors of the time, and to oppose OUTA’s involvement.
Myeni did not appear but was represented by Advocate Nqabayethu Buthelezi.
OUTA and SAAPA are opposing the application and are also calling for a punitive costs order against Myeni.
Myeni’s legal team gave notice of intention to change the details in her plea opposing the case at the last appearance on 21 November. This was more than two years after the close of pleadings.
Myeni’s application wants to change her plea partly to deny her personal involvement in wrongdoing and partly to shift responsibility for some matters to the SAA executive management, by asking for other directors to be joined to the case. Myeni is also opposing OUTA’s involvement in bringing the case against her.
OUTA believes this is part of an ongoing strategy to delay the case against Myeni and emphasised that the attempt to change the plea details would be opposed. OUTA believes that any changes to Myeni’s pleadings should have occurred months ago.
The application to declare Myeni a delinquent director was filed in March 2017 by OUTA and the SAA Pilots’ Association. The defendants are Myeni, SAA, Air Chefs (SAA’s subsidiary) and the Minister of Finance (who was responsible for SAA when the application was filed). Only Myeni is defending it.
OUTA and SAAPA are represented by advocates Carol Steinberg, Chris McConnachie and Nada Kakaza, instructed by Rashaad Pandor Attorneys.
Myeni is represented by Advocate Nqabayethu Buthelezi, instructed by Lugisani Mantsha Attorneys.